faint
faynt
Faint (adj) means Barely perceptible; weak in intensity. Example: “There was a faint smell of smoke in the hallway.”
adj
1
Barely perceptible; weak in intensity.
"There was a faint smell of smoke in the hallway."
"He gave only a faint smile."
"We could hear the faint sound of music from the next street."
2
Feeling weak or dizzy, as if about to lose consciousness.
"She felt faint after standing in the heat too long."
"I skipped breakfast and started to feel faint on the bus."
"He looked pale and said he felt faint, so we sat him down."
verb
1
To lose consciousness briefly, usually from lack of blood flow to the brain.
"He fainted at the sight of blood."
"Several people fainted in the crowded hall because of the heat."
"If you stand up too fast, you might faint."
How to use faint
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWeak or barely noticeable, or, as a verb, to briefly pass out.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "feint," a fake move in sports or fighting — they sound identical but are unrelated in meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
faint smell
faint hope
feel faint
faint of heart
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Word forms
- Plural
- faints
- Third person singular
- faints
- Past tense
- fainted
- Comparative
- fainter
- Superlative
- faintest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a _____ smell of smoke in the hallway.
Etymology
From Old French faint/feint, "feigned" or "sluggish," ultimately from Latin fingere, "to shape or contrive" — a distant relative of "feign" and "fiction."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for faint
See all rhymes for faint →Frequently asked questions
What does “faint” mean?
The word “faint” means barely perceptible; weak in intensity. In plain terms, weak or barely noticeable, or, as a verb, to briefly pass out.
How do you pronounce “faint”?
“Faint” is pronounced faynt (/feɪnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “faint” in a sentence?
Here is “faint” used in a sentence: “There was a faint smell of smoke in the hallway.”
What is another word for “faint”?
Words with a similar meaning to “faint” include queal.
What part of speech is “faint”?
Depending on how it is used, “faint” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “faint” come from?
The word “faint” comes from Latin. From Old French faint/feint, "feigned" or "sluggish," ultimately from Latin fingere, "to shape or contrive" — a distant relative of "feign" and "fiction.".
Is “faint” a common word?
“Faint” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “faint” have?
“Faint” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: barely perceptible; weak in intensity.
What is the difference between faint and queal?
Faint is the standard, widely used word for losing consciousness briefly or for something barely perceptible, while queal is a listed synonym that is far less common in everyday use. Faint also functions as an adjective describing weak intensity, such as a faint smell or faint sound, a sense queal does not typically cover.
What is the difference between faint and dizzy?
Feeling faint suggests being close to losing consciousness, often with weakness or lightheadedness as described in its adjective sense. Dizzy refers more specifically to a spinning or unbalanced sensation, which can be a symptom that leads to fainting but is not the same as fainting itself.
What causes a person to faint?
A person faints, or loses consciousness briefly, usually from a temporary lack of blood flow to the brain, which can be triggered by standing up too quickly, stress, heat, or low blood sugar. Fainting is typically brief, with consciousness returning once blood flow is restored.
