brown

1 of 3

adjective

1
a
: having the color of wood or chocolate
especially : of the color brown (see brown entry 2 sense 1)
a brown cow
brown eyes and hair
as brown as the oak leaves
b
: having dark or tanned skin
Their hands and faces were brown from long days in the sun.
2
or less commonly Brown : of or relating to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin
Black and brown Americans

brown

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noun

plural browns
1
: any of a group of colors between red and yellow in hue, of medium to low lightness, and of moderate to low saturation
2
browns or less commonly Browns plural : people belonging to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin

Note: The plural noun browns is used mostly in phrases referring to multiple population groups.

3
brownish adjective
browny adjective

brown

3 of 3

verb

browned; browning; browns

intransitive verb

: to become brown

transitive verb

: to make brown

Examples of brown in a Sentence

Adjective workers whose backs are brown from long hours in the sun Noun The room was decorated in brown. a mix of browns and reds Verb Brown the chicken in a pan with butter. Her skin was browned by the sun. The chicken is browning in the oven.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Elijah has sandy hair, brown eyes and birthmark on his left knee, according to the AMBER Alert website. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 His patrician forehead crinkles, and the brown eyes charmingly plead: Forgive me! Zing Tsjeng, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024 Choosing a darker color, like black or brown, is better for those who do not want to clean their doormat often. Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 These slip-ons come in five different colors, including a gorgeous turquoise, a pretty pink, and classic brown, gray, and black options. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024 Sims is 5 foot 3 inches tall, weighs about 110 pounds and has black hair with brown eyes. David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 The woman was about 25 to 30 years old and thin with long, dark, curly hair and brown eyes. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 Hir first look was a navy menswear moment featuring a navy dress shirt, tie and slacks teamed with a speckled gray bomber jacket and brown boots. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Choose from 14 colors, including brown, white, and red. Bridget Degnan, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Christina Morales, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024 The new hue is a rich medium brown with hints of caramel highlights. Marci Robin, Allure, 19 Mar. 2024 Shoppers can choose from six colors including rustic brown and white. Monica Bell, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 to 17 minutes, until the center is just set and the edges are golden brown (your frittata is finished when the center is no longer jiggly). Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Even in parts of the South, stockings during the cooler months give anglers a chance to go trout fishing for rainbows and browns that could never exist there naturally. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024 On February 27, the actor and director wore a head-to-toe chocolate brown ensemble to the Saint Laurent fall-winter show in Paris, which included a bold, see-through top. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 28 Feb. 2024 Cook until tender and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Put these cooking techniques to good use in our best cabbage recipes, like Cabbage and Potato Gratin and Braised Cabbage with Carrots. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2024 The base is a deepest-dark shade of cocoa brown, while the balayage comes off a warmer shade of smoky brown. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
Rub the chicken all over with olive oil, sea salt and black pepper, then brown in a large ovenproof casserole pan on a high heat, removing it to a plate once golden all over (roughly 5 minutes). Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 26 Feb. 2024 Even the very air of the restaurant seems to have a lushness to it, though that might just be wafts of browning butter from a nearby tableside steak flambé. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2024 Bake nachos: Bake in preheated oven until cheese is melted and chips are lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 It’s designed with a nonstick enamel coating on the inside, which browns, simmers, sautées, and fries different foods. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024 Here’s some essential reading: 5 tips for cooking juicy pork chops quickly 6 tips for browning food to get more flavor Baking spices add complexity to savory dishes. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 Cook the fritters until the undersides are browned, about 3 minutes, then carefully turn them and cook until the second sides are nicely browned, for about 2 minutes. Julia Turshen, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Sear them in the olive oil or lard over high heat until lightly browned but not cooked through. The Editors, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024 Here’s some essential reading: 5 tips for cooking juicy pork chops quickly 6 tips for browning food to get more flavor 7 pie crust tips for tender, flaky results every time Baking spices add complexity to savory dishes. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English broun, from Old English brūn; akin to Old High German brūn brown, Greek phrynē toad

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of brown was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near brown

Cite this Entry

“Brown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

brown

1 of 3 adjective
1
: of the color brown
2
: of dark or tanned complexion

brown

2 of 3 noun
: a color like that of coffee or chocolate that is a blend of red and yellow darkened by black
brownish adjective

brown

3 of 3 verb
: to make or become brown

Biographical Definition

Brown 1 of 7

biographical name (1)

Charles Brockden 1771–1810 American novelist

Brown

2 of 7

biographical name (2)

Ford Mad*ox ˈma-dəks How to pronounce Brown (audio) 1821–1893 English painter

Brown

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biographical name (3)

George 1818–1880 Canadian (Scottish-born) journalist and politician

Brown

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biographical name (4)

(James) Gordon 1951–     British prime minister (2007–10)

Brown

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biographical name (5)

James (Joseph) 1933–2006 American singer and songwriter

Brown

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biographical name (6)

John 1800–1859 Old Brown of Osawatomie ˌō-sə-ˈwä-tə-mē How to pronounce Brown (audio) American abolitionist

Brown

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biographical name (7)

Michael Stuart 1941–     American biochemist
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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