swoon

[ swoon ]

verb (used without object)

1. to faint; lose consciousness.
2. to enter a state of hysterical rapture or ecstasy:

   The teenagers swooned at the sight of the singing star.

noun

1. a faint or fainting fit; syncope.

swoon

/ swuːn /

verb

1. a literary word for faint
2. to become ecstatic

noun

1. an instance of fainting

Derived Forms

• ˈswooning, adjective
• ˈswooningly, adverb

Other Words From

• swooning·ly adverb
• un·swooning adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swoon¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (verb) swo(w)nen “to faint,” originally as gerund swowening, swoghning “act of swooning,” ultimately continuing Old English -swōgan (in compounds) “to rush, overrun, choke”; Middle English (noun) partly derivative of the verb, partly extracted from in (a) swoune, on swoune, alteration of a swoune, aswoune “in a swoon,” as if equivalent to a a- ¹ + swoon (noun), but probably continuing Old English āswōgen, past participle of āswōgan “to overcome” ( a- ³ ), or geswōgen (past participle) “senseless, dead”

Word History and Origins

Origin of swoon¹

Old English geswōgen insensible, past participle of swōgan (unattested except in compounds) to suffocate

Example Sentences

As Manchester United supporters prepare to welcome a highly-rated and talented coach from outside of Europe's 'big five' leagues who has analysts swooning, they may be worried that it all sounds a bit familiar.

From BBC

In 1910, a quarter of a million people had spent 10 days swooning over the Los Angeles International Aviation Meet — the nation’s first daredevil airshow.

From Los Angeles Times

If dancers can swirl their partner correctly, maybe they can swoon them too.

From Los Angeles Times

Reviews were mixed, but never underestimate how awards voters will swoon for a biopic.

From Los Angeles Times

As they bounced to a fevered version of Dog Days Are Over, and swooned to the gothic romance of Between Two Lungs, it was clear why Florence still inspires such devotion.

From BBC

Related Words

• pass out