brown

1 of 4

adjective (1)

ˈbrau̇n 

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

2 of 4

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 also 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

: brown trout

brownish

ˈbrau̇-nish 

adjective

browny

ˈbrau̇-nē 

adjective

brown

3 of 4

verb

browned; browning; browns

intransitive verb

: to become brown

transitive verb

: to make brown

browny

4 of 4

adjective (2)

ˈbrau̇-nē 

-er/-est

: verging on brown : somewhat brown or browned

Examples of brown in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

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

With help from stylist Law Roach, Zendaya wore the same butter-yellow, brown and white Lanvin string bikini top and matching low-rise, wide-leg pants Berry wore to the film’s New York premiere. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Other videos and photos shared on social media showed people standing on a pedestrian bridge taking photos and videos as churning, brown waters rushed underneath. — Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Noun

Cook, stirring often, until butter browns and nuts have slightly darkened, 6–8 minutes. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

When a class of schoolchildren collides with a group of pups at the park, the teacher and the dog walker pick up the wrong leashes, sending human child George away with the dogs and furry brown Romper off to school for the afternoon. — Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

Verb

Add ground beef and stir-fry with onions for 5 minutes or until browned. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Months without significant rain have browned the grass and trees. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1) and Adjective (2)

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

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

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

Phrases Containing brown

• big brown bat
• brown alga
• brown bagging
• brown bear
• brown Betty
• brown bread
• brown coal
• brown dog tick
• brown earth
• brown-eyed Susan
• brown fat
• brown-headed cowbird
• brown lung
• brown pelican
• brown rat
• brown recluse spider
• brown rice
• brown rot
• brown sauce
• brown study
• brown sugar
• brown-tail moth
• brown tree snake
• brown trout
• golden-brown alga
• little brown bat
• nut-brown
• Vandyke brown

Rhymes for brown

• bown
• clown
• crown
• drown
• frown
• gown
• lown
• noun
• town
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown

Kids Definition

brown

1 of 3 adjective

ˈbrau̇n 

1

: of the color brown

2

: of dark or tanned complexion

3

: of or relating to any of various population groups considered to have medium skin color

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

ˈbrau̇-nish 

adjective

brown

3 of 3 verb

: to make or become brown

Biographical Definition

Brown 1 of 7

biographical name (1)

ˈbrau̇n 

Charles Brockden 1771–1810 American novelist

Brown

2 of 7

biographical name (2)

Ford Mad*ox ˈma-dəks  1821–1893 English painter

Brown

3 of 7

biographical name (3)

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

Brown

4 of 7

biographical name (4)

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

Brown

5 of 7

biographical name (5)

James (Joseph) 1933–2006 American singer and songwriter

Brown

6 of 7

biographical name (6)

John 1800–1859 Old Brown of Osawatomie ˌō-sə-ˈwä-tə-mē  American abolitionist

Brown

7 of 7

biographical name (7)

Michael Stuart 1941–     American biochemist