faint

1 of 3

adjective

ˈfānt 

fainter; faintest

1

a

: hardly perceptible : dim

faint handwriting

b

: vague sense 2a

haven't the faintest idea

2

: weak, dizzy, and likely to faint

… sick and faint from the pain …

—Jack London

3

: lacking courage and spirit : cowardly

faint of heart

4

: lacking strength or vigor : performed, offered, or accomplished weakly or languidly

faint praise

a faint smile on her lips

5

: producing a sensation of faintness : oppressive

the faint atmosphere of a tropical port

faintish

ˈfān-tish 

adjective

faintishness noun

faintly adverb

faintness noun

faint

2 of 3

verb

fainted; fainting; faints

intransitive verb

1

: to lose consciousness because of a temporary decrease in the blood supply to the brain

2

archaic : to lose courage or spirit

3

archaic : to become weak

faint

3 of 3

noun

: the physiological action of fainting

also : the resulting condition : syncope sense 1

Synonyms of faint

Adjective

• vague
• hazy
• pale

Verb

• collapse
• swoon
• pass out
• keel (over)

Noun

• trance
• daze
• syncope
• blackout
• swim

Examples of faint in a Sentence

Adjective

We heard a faint noise.

the faint glow of a distant light

There was a faint smile on her lips.

There's just a faint chance that the weather will improve by tomorrow.

a faint reminder of their former greatness

I'd better lie down; I feel faint.

She felt faint from hunger.

Verb

He always faints at the sight of blood.

She almost fainted from the pain.

She suffers from fainting spells.

Noun

shocking news can cause a person to fall into a faint

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This saucy, yet still suitably operatic interpretation, however, deserves more than such faint praise. —Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 8 May 2026

Of these many millions of faint stars TESS looked at, 10,091 appeared to have transiting, planet-like objects never seen before. —Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 8 May 2026

Verb

Earlier Friday, Mohammadi had fainted twice in prison in Zanjan in northwestern Iran, according to the foundation. —ABC News, 1 May 2026

The incident is not the first time a pilot has fainted while in the air. —Adam England, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

Noun

Taking care of him is not for the faint of heart. —Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026

The business of publishing may not be for the faint of heart, but the people in it are full of heart. —Laura Zigman, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English feint, faynt "deceiving, false, lacking in spirit or courage, listless, wearied, feeble, pale," borrowed from Anglo-French, "deceiving, false, lacking in spirit, weak," from present participle of feindre, faindre "to make, fabricate, pretend, dissemble, lose heart, fade" — more at feign

Verb

Middle English feinten, faynten "to pretend, lack spirit, become enfeebled, grow weak, fade," verbal derivative of feint, faynt "deceiving, lacking in spirit, wearied" — more at faint entry 1

Noun

noun derivative of faint entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1792, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing faint

• damn with faint praise
• dead faint
• faint of heart
• not for the faint of heart

Rhymes for faint

• feint
• maint
• paint
• plaint
• quaint
• saint
• taint
• acquaint
• complaint
• constraint
• distraint
• enceinte

Kids Definition

faint

1 of 3 adjective

ˈfānt 

1

: timid, cowardly

faint heart

2

: being weak, dizzy, and likely to collapse

feel faint

3

: lacking strength : weak

faint praise

4

a

: not clear or plain : dim

faint cries for help

b

: vague sense 2

haven't the faintest idea

faintly adverb

faintness noun

faint

2 of 3 verb

: to lose consciousness

faint

3 of 3 noun

: an act or condition of fainting

Medical Definition

faint

1 of 3 adjective

ˈfānt 

: weak, dizzy, and likely to faint

faint

2 of 3 intransitive verb

: to lose consciousness because of a temporary decrease in the blood supply to the brain

faint

3 of 3 noun

: the physiological action of fainting

also : the resulting condition : syncope