faint Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain
    swoon; deliquium; syncope.
  2. verb pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
    swoon; pass out; conk.
  3. adjective satellite deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
    weak.
    • a faint outline
    • the wan sun cast faint shadows
    • the faint light of a distant candle
    • weak colors
    • a faint hissing sound
    • a faint aroma
    • a weak pulse
  4. adjective satellite lacking clarity or distinctness
    dim; shadowy; vague; wispy.
    • a dim figure in the distance
    • only a faint recollection
    • shadowy figures in the gloom
    • saw a vague outline of a building through the fog
    • a few wispy memories of childhood
  5. adjective satellite lacking strength or vigor
    feeble.
    • damning with faint praise
    • faint resistance
    • feeble efforts
    • a feeble voice
  6. adjective satellite weak and likely to lose consciousness
    light; swooning; light-headed; lightheaded.
    • suddenly felt faint from the pain
    • was sick and faint from hunger
    • felt light in the head
    • a swooning fit
    • light-headed with wine
    • light-headed from lack of sleep
  7. adjective satellite indistinctly understood or felt or perceived
    • a faint clue to the origin of the mystery
    • haven't the faintest idea
  8. adjective satellite lacking conviction or boldness or courage
    fainthearted; faint-hearted; timid.
    • faint heart ne'er won fair lady

WordNet

Faint adjective
Etymology
OE. faint, feint, false, faint, F. feint, p.p. of feindre to feign, suppose, hesitate. See Faign, and cf. Feint.
Wordforms
comparative Fainter superlative Faintest
Definitions
  1. Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.
  2. Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed; as, "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Old Proverb.
  3. Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound.
  4. Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance.
    The faint prosecution of the war. Sir J. Davies.
Faint noun
Definitions
  1. The act of fainting, or the state of one who has fainted; a swoon. R. See Fainting, n.
    The saint, Who propped the Virgin in her faint. Sir W. Scott.
Faint intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Fainted; present participle & verbal noun Fainting
Definitions
  1. To become weak or wanting in vigor; to grow feeble; to lose strength and color, and the control of the bodily or mental functions; to swoon; -- sometimes with away. See Fainting, n.
    Hearing the honor intended her, she fainted away. Guardian.
    If I send them away fasting . . . they will faint by the way. Mark viii. 8.
  2. To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent.
    If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Prov. xxiv. 10.
  3. To decay; to disappear; to vanish.
    Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye. Pope.
Faint transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to faint or become dispirited; to depress; to weaken. Obs.
    It faints me to think what follows. Shak.

Webster 1913