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
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
browned; browning; browns
: to become brown
: 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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2023
Cue this 18k yellow-gold classic chunky chain, available in 42cm, 58cm and 100cm, and add a medallion of choice, such as this lucky diamond horseshoe that dons 14 brown diamonds.
—Felicity Carter, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
But the desert is for creatures more elusive still: wild dogs, cheetahs, aardvarks, brown hyenas, porcupine, and pangolins.
—Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2023
Staud Carver belted wool-blend coat Snuggle up in Staud’s chocolatey brown wool coat this winter for total sartorial success.
—Porter Simmons, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2023
Hendrix, with his soft white coat and brown spots, would lay his head on her lap and nuzzle her.
—William Wan, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
Shayk, 37, opted for a cream dress, tall brown boots with a heel, a black puffer jacket and large silver hoops.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 26 Nov. 2023
Sally is a sweet Nubian-breed goat with brown eyes — one of the newest rescues of Frederick Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary, which partners with Hemlock Neversink to offer what’s becoming a standout wellness activity.
—Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2023
Bake until the center is pale golden brown and the edges are golden brown, 20 to 23 minutes.
—Genevieve Ko, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023
Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2023
Both the dark brown and the sand color of these Sorel Nakiska Slide II Slippers are starting to sell out, but the Go Coffee Run Slippers have better availability.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023
Broil cheese: Broil until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 3 minutes.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2023
Amazon even carries it in a lot of the same colors that have gone viral, like black, emerald green and rich brown — plus more than three dozen additional hues.
—Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 15 Nov. 2023
The brand’s focus on traditional tailoring with contemporary touches—the new collection features functional items in pine green and browns, wool coats, premium knitwear, and pants in Italian corduroy and pure cotton velvet—fits well with Goode’s love of outdoor sports.
—Clara Laguna, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Nov. 2023
The Bings are meant to be enjoyed golden brown, right out of the airfryer.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Sometimes the hands are green; other times, human shades of brown.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
Instead the fashion and beauty maven opted for a custom Ferragamo dress in chocolate brown.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 2 Nov. 2023
Jonathan Miles, Field & Stream, 15 Nov. 2023
Sugar Adding sugar to the dry ingredients for pie dough interferes with gluten development, aids in browning and, of course, adds sweetness.
—Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
Similar to cast iron, the stoneware material evenly distributes heat to ensure uniform browning and thorough cooking.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023
Bake cookies: Bake in 350°F oven 17 to 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through.
—Maggie Burch, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2023
Consider browning it in the skillet, after the onions and along with such quick-cooking aromatics as garlic and red pepper flakes.
—Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2023
The spot can be yellow to brown and get lighter or darker over time.1
Iris Freckles
Iris freckles are small dark spots on the inside of your eye.
—Anthea Levi, Health, 30 Oct. 2023
Very even heating across the bottom of the pan led to an even browning on the meat.
—Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023
When baked until lightly browned and crisp, broccoli becomes totally snackable.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 19 Oct. 2023
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Adjective
All men are described as having dark hair and brown skin.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2023
Cue this 18k yellow-gold classic chunky chain, available in 42cm, 58cm and 100cm, and add a medallion of choice, such as this lucky diamond horseshoe that dons 14 brown diamonds.
—Felicity Carter, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
But the desert is for creatures more elusive still: wild dogs, cheetahs, aardvarks, brown hyenas, porcupine, and pangolins.
—Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2023
Staud Carver belted wool-blend coat Snuggle up in Staud’s chocolatey brown wool coat this winter for total sartorial success.
—Porter Simmons, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2023
Hendrix, with his soft white coat and brown spots, would lay his head on her lap and nuzzle her.
—William Wan, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
Shayk, 37, opted for a cream dress, tall brown boots with a heel, a black puffer jacket and large silver hoops.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 26 Nov. 2023
Sally is a sweet Nubian-breed goat with brown eyes — one of the newest rescues of Frederick Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary, which partners with Hemlock Neversink to offer what’s becoming a standout wellness activity.
—Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2023
Bake until the center is pale golden brown and the edges are golden brown, 20 to 23 minutes.
—Genevieve Ko, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023
Noun
Crafted in a gorgeous brown, this waterproof pouch ensures your cosmetics stay safe and organized.
—Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2023
Both the dark brown and the sand color of these Sorel Nakiska Slide II Slippers are starting to sell out, but the Go Coffee Run Slippers have better availability.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023
Broil cheese: Broil until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 3 minutes.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2023
Amazon even carries it in a lot of the same colors that have gone viral, like black, emerald green and rich brown — plus more than three dozen additional hues.
—Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 15 Nov. 2023
The brand’s focus on traditional tailoring with contemporary touches—the new collection features functional items in pine green and browns, wool coats, premium knitwear, and pants in Italian corduroy and pure cotton velvet—fits well with Goode’s love of outdoor sports.
—Clara Laguna, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Nov. 2023
The Bings are meant to be enjoyed golden brown, right out of the airfryer.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Sometimes the hands are green; other times, human shades of brown.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
Instead the fashion and beauty maven opted for a custom Ferragamo dress in chocolate brown.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 2 Nov. 2023
Verb
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kielbasa is lightly browned and has released some of its fat.
—Jonathan Miles, Field & Stream, 15 Nov. 2023
Sugar Adding sugar to the dry ingredients for pie dough interferes with gluten development, aids in browning and, of course, adds sweetness.
—Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
Similar to cast iron, the stoneware material evenly distributes heat to ensure uniform browning and thorough cooking.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023
Bake cookies: Bake in 350°F oven 17 to 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through.
—Maggie Burch, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2023
Consider browning it in the skillet, after the onions and along with such quick-cooking aromatics as garlic and red pepper flakes.
—Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2023
The spot can be yellow to brown and get lighter or darker over time.1
Iris Freckles
Iris freckles are small dark spots on the inside of your eye.
—Anthea Levi, Health, 30 Oct. 2023
Very even heating across the bottom of the pan led to an even browning on the meat.
—Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023
When baked until lightly browned and crisp, broccoli becomes totally snackable.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 19 Oct. 2023
See More
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
Phrases Containing brown
Dictionary Entries Near brown
Cite this Entry
“Brown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
brown
1 of 3 adjective1
: 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
brown
3 of 3 verb
: to make or become brown
Biographical Definition
Brown
2 of 7biographical name (2)
Ford Mad*ox
ˈma-dəks 
1821–1893 English painter
1821–1893 English painter
Brown
3 of 7biographical name (3)
George 1818–1880 Canadian (Scottish-born) journalist and politician
Brown
4 of 7biographical name (4)
(James) Gordon 1951– British prime minister (2007–10)
Brown
5 of 7biographical name (5)
James (Joseph) 1933–2006 American singer and songwriter
Brown
6 of 7biographical name (6)
John 1800–1859
Old Brown of Osawatomie
ˌō-sə-ˈwä-tə-mē
American abolitionist
American abolitionist
Brown
7 of 7biographical name (7)
Michael Stuart 1941– American biochemist
More from Merriam-Webster on brown
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for brown
Nglish: Translation of brown for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of brown for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brown
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