faint — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to lose consciousness

   Usage

   • of a being

   Synonyms

   dizzy

   Examples

   I felt faint after my fifth gin and tonic.

   He almost fell faint due to the hot climate.

2. Lacking courage, spirit, or energy; cowardly; dejected.

   Examples

   Faint heart ne'er won fair lady.

3. Barely perceptible; not bright, or loud, or sharp.

   Synonyms

   dullwan

   Examples

   There was a faint red light in the distance.

4. Performed, done, or acted, weakly; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy.

   Examples

   faint efforts

   faint resistance

   More examples (1)

   They damned the latest book with faint praise.

5. Slight; minimal.

   Synonyms

   remote

   Examples

   a faint chance

   do you have the faintest understanding of what they mean?

6. Sickly, so as to make a person feel faint.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Happening to pass a fruiterer’s on their way; the door of which was open, though the shop was by this time shut; one of them remarked how faint the peaches smelled.

Noun

1. The act of fainting, syncope.

   Examples

   She suffered another faint.

2. The state of one who has fainted; a swoon.

   Usage

   • Rare

Verb

1. To lose consciousness through a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions).

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   A fainting fit.

   If I send them away fasting […] they will faint by the way.

   More examples (1)

   But upon hearing the Honour which he intended her , she fainted away , and fell down as Dead at his Feet

2. To lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

3. To decay; to disappear; to vanish.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   November 12, 1711, Alexander Pope, letter to Henry Cromwell Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye.

Adjective

1. deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

   Synonyms

   weak

   Examples

   a faint outline

   the wan sun cast faint shadows

   More examples (5)

   the faint light of a distant candle

   weak colors

   a faint hissing sound

   a faint aroma

   a weak pulse

2. lacking clarity or distinctness

   Synonyms

   dimshadowyvaguewispy

   Examples

   a dim figure in the distance

   only a faint recollection

   More examples (3)

   shadowy figures in the gloom

   saw a vague outline of a building through the fog

   a few wispy memories of childhood

3. lacking strength or vigor

   Synonyms

   feeble

   Examples

   damning with faint praise

   faint resistance

   More examples (2)

   feeble efforts

   a feeble voice

4. weak and likely to lose consciousness

   Synonyms

   lightswooninglight-headedlightheaded

   Examples

   suddenly felt faint from the pain

   was sick and faint from hunger

   More examples (4)

   felt light in the head

   a swooning fit

   light-headed with wine

   light-headed from lack of sleep

5. indistinctly understood or felt or perceived

   Examples

   a faint clue to the origin of the mystery

   haven't the faintest idea

6. lacking conviction or boldness or courage

   Synonyms

   faintheartedtimidfaint-hearted

   Examples

   faint heart ne'er won fair lady

Noun

1. a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain

   Synonyms

   swoonsyncopedeliquium

   Broader terms

   loss of consciousness

Verb

1. pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain

   Synonyms

   conkswoonpass out

   Broader terms

   zonk outpass outblack out