faint
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- pronunciation:
- feInt
- parts of speech:
- adjective, verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective, verb), Homophone Note, Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| inflections: |
fainter, faintest |
| definition 1: |
weak or slight.
There is a faint smell of fish in the kitchen.We heard a faint whisper.- synonyms:
- weak
- antonyms:
- strong
- similar words:
- dim, dull, slight
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| definition 2: |
very tired, dizzy, or about to pass out.
She felt faint after standing in the sun for hours.- synonyms:
- dizzy, exhausted
- similar words:
- light, weak
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| related words: |
dizzy, low, soft |
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| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
faints, fainting, fainted |
| definition: |
to pass out.
Paul faints at the sight of blood.- synonyms:
- pass out
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The words
faint and
feint sound alike but have different meanings. To find out why a basketball player would rather feint than faint on the court, look up
feint.
Faint comes from an early French word that means "cowardly" and "lacking in spirit."