noun
countenance
KOWN-tuh-nuhns
Countenance (noun) means a person's face or facial expression, especially as it reveals their mood. Example: “His calm countenance gave away nothing about the bad news he carried.”
noun
1
A person's face or facial expression, especially as it reveals their mood.
"His calm countenance gave away nothing about the bad news he carried."
verb
1
To approve of, tolerate, or support something.
"The company refused to countenance any form of harassment."
"The cruel punishment was countenanced by the government, although it was not officially legal."
"But even though the Pleven Plan was the brainchild of a French prime minister, public debate had revealed the extent of French reluctance to countenance German rearmament under any conditions."
— Tony Judt, The Politics of Stability (2005)
"I won't countenance other than compunctious semblances for such a grievous blunder."
How to use countenance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone's facial expression — or, as a verb, to approve of or allow something.
When to use it
Fairly formal or literary in both senses; rarely used in casual speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- countenances
- Third person singular
- countenances
- Past tense
- countenanced
Fill the gap
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His calm _____ gave away nothing about the bad news he carried.
Etymology
From Old French contenance, ultimately related to Latin continentia — a distant relative of "continence."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for countenance
See all rhymes for countenance →Frequently asked questions
What does “countenance” mean?
The word “countenance” means a person's face or facial expression, especially as it reveals their mood. In plain terms, someone's facial expression — or, as a verb, to approve of or allow something.
How do you pronounce “countenance”?
“Countenance” is pronounced KOWN-tuh-nuhns (/ˈkaʊn.tə.nəns/ in IPA).
How do you use “countenance” in a sentence?
Here is “countenance” used in a sentence: “His calm countenance gave away nothing about the bad news he carried.”
What is another word for “countenance”?
Words with a similar meaning to “countenance” include boat, complexion, chevy chase, dial, ecaf and George Best.
What part of speech is “countenance”?
Depending on how it is used, “countenance” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “countenance” come from?
The word “countenance” comes from Latin. From Old French contenance, ultimately related to Latin continentia — a distant relative of "continence.".
How many meanings does “countenance” have?
“Countenance” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person's face or facial expression, especially as it reveals their mood.
