faint

[ feynt ]

adjective

, faint·er, faint·est.

1. lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc.:

   a faint light;

   a faint color;

   a faint sound.

   Synonyms: dull, dim, ill-defined, indistinct

2. feeble or slight:

   faint resistance;

   faint praise;

   a faint resemblance.

   Synonyms: weak, irresolute

3. feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness:

   faint with hunger.

   Synonyms: languid

4. lacking courage; cowardly; timorous:

   Faint heart never won fair maid.

   Synonyms: dastardly, timid, fearful, pusillanimous

5. Law. unfounded:

   a faint action.

verb (used without object)

1. to lose consciousness temporarily.
2. to lose brightness.
3. Archaic. to grow weak; lose spirit or courage.

noun

1. a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon:

   to fall into a faint.

faint

/ feɪnt /

adjective

1. lacking clarity, brightness, volume, etc

   a faint noise

2. lacking conviction or force; weak

   faint praise

3. feeling dizzy or weak as if about to lose consciousness
4. without boldness or courage; timid (esp in the combination faint-hearted )
5. not the faintest or not the faintest idea or not the faintest notion
   no idea whatsoever

   I haven't the faintest

verb

1. to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness
2. archaic.
   to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage

noun

1. a sudden spontaneous loss of consciousness, usually momentary, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the brain Technical namesyncope

Derived Forms

• ˈfaintly, adverb
• ˈfaintness, noun
• ˈfaintishness, noun
• ˈfaintish, adjective
• ˈfaintingly, adverb
• ˈfainter, noun

Other Words From

• fainter noun
• fainting·ly adverb
• faintish adjective
• faintish·ness noun
• faintly adverb
• faintness noun
• over·faint adjective
• over·faintly adverb
• over·faintness noun
• un·fainting adjective
• un·faintly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of faint¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French: literally, “feigned,” past participle of faindre, feindre “to feign”; feign

Word History and Origins

Origin of faint¹

C13: from Old French, from faindre to be idle

Idioms and Phrases

see damn with faint praise .

Example Sentences

He added: "Smoke has filled the air and flames are lighting up the faces of those who've come to watch, while faint echoes of drumming come from over the hill."

From BBC

Never in recent US political history has the outcome of a presidential been so in doubt - this is not a contest for the faint of heart.

From BBC

They have a heartbeat and it isn’t a faint one, with winnable games against 2-6 Miami and 2-7 New England coming up.

From Los Angeles Times

Gold-hued orbs float from the ceiling against a dark interior, where jars of herbs line the backlit walls, casting a faint, warm, honey-toned glow.

From Salon

In this sense, Mintz’s memoir is not for the faint of heart.

From Salon