fawn

verb \ ˈfȯn , ˈfän \

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: fawn in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of fawn

fawned; fawning; fawns

intransitive verb

1 : to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner

courtiers fawning on the king

2 : to show affection —used especially of a dog

The dog was fawning on its master.

—

fawner

noun

See fawn defined for English-language learners

See fawn defined for kids

fawn was our Word of the Day on 06/16/2013. Hear the podcast!

Examples of fawn in a Sentence

a sports star surrounded by fawning fans
a student who could not wait to fawn over the new teacher

Recent Examples of fawn from the Web

During a news conference at Chequers, the prime minister’s official country residence, Trump was by turns defiant, fawning, and dismissive about the interview.

— julie hirschfeld davis, BostonGlobe.com, "In changing of tone, Trump heaps praise on May as ‘tough’ and ‘capable’," 13 July 2018
During a news conference at Chequers, the prime minister’s 16th-century official country residence, Mr. Trump was by turns defiant, fawning and dismissive of the interview.

— New York Times, "Trump Brings His Own Style to a Day of Damage Control in Britain," 13 July 2018
Another photo shows Kimberly enjoying some sleepy cuddling with the baby, and the other children fawn over their new sibling.

— karen mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, "James Van Der Beek and Wife Kimberly Welcome Fifth Child, Daughter Gwendolyn," 17 June 2018
On the supposedly friendly side, Europe assumed that the United States would fawn after the virtue-signaling Paris Climate Accord.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "President Nobama," 16 Jan. 2018
Critics revisiting Sjöwall and Wahlöö’s books now are fawning, using that canonizing method of inverting their weaknesses instead of acknowledging them.

— alice bolin, Longreads, "The Daughter as Detective," 26 June 2018
The airplanes had been fawned over for days by ground crews, but in fine aeronautical tradition the responsibility for their condition lay ultimately with the pilots.

— william langewiesche, The Atlantic, "An Extraordinarily Expensive Way to Fight ISIS," 21 June 2018
With its large, oblong skylight, the space was neither gloomy nor cramped, and it was continuously restocked with supplies by fawning assistants.

— stephen metcalf, The Atlantic, "Jean-Michel Basquiat Is Still an Enigma," 24 June 2018
The basic premise — an opportunity for relatives and family friends to fawn over the prom-goers — is a custom that goes way back.

— oona goodin-smith, Philly.com, "Bryan Colangelo resigns, a look at Philly's elaborate prom send-offs | Morning Newsletter," 8 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fawn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Some people will be glad to learn the origins of "fawn"-and there's a hint about the word's etymology in that declaration. Middle English speakers adapted an Old English word meaning "to rejoice" to create the verb "faunen," which shifted in spelling over time to become "fawn." That Old English word, in turn, derives from fagan, meaning "glad." "Fagan" is also an ancestor of the English adjective "fain," whose earliest (now obsolete) meaning is "happy" or "pleased." If we follow the etymological path of "fawn" even further back, we arrive at an ancient word that also provided Old German and Old Norse with words for "happy."

Origin and Etymology of fawn

Middle English faunen, from Old English fagnian to rejoice, from fægen, fagan glad — more at fain

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

fawn Synonyms

Phrases

curry favor, kiss up to;

Synonym Discussion of fawn

fawn, toady, truckle, cringe, cower mean to behave abjectly before a superior. fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

- waiters fawning over a celebrity

toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

- toadying to his boss

truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

- truckling to a powerful lobbyist

cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

- a cringing sycophant

cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

- cowering before a bully

fawn

noun

Definition of fawn

1 : a young deer; especially : one still unweaned or retaining a distinctive baby coat

2 : kid 2

3 : a light grayish brown

—

fawny

play \ˈfȯ-nē, ˈfä-\ adjective

See fawn defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of fawn from the Web

The fawn was taken to a local rehabilitator in Osage Co.

— danielle garrand, CBS News, "Oklahoma game warden saves unborn fawn by performing emergency C-section on dead doe," 10 June 2018
Rasted gave a thumbs-up after the fawn rushed into the woods.

— Washington Post, "Finland: Coast guard gives unsteady fawn a hand off ice," 19 Mar. 2018
Even if the artist does not fawn, the subject might select that certain spot, some special garb or tilt of head, to convey an ideal that would never be reflected in the face.

— charles desmarais, SFChronicle.com, "Bruce Gilden’s grotesques at Pier 24 Photography," 22 June 2018
When Warden Walker arrived on scene the fawn was also deceased.

— danielle garrand, CBS News, "Oklahoma game warden saves unborn fawn by performing emergency C-section on dead doe," 10 June 2018
The fawn was standing, Zimmerman said, but didn't try to run.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin man encounters rare white deer fawn on Sauk County morel mushroom hunt," 15 May 2018
Members of Congress, intimidated by his popularity, fawn in the face of his rough talk and tough policies.

— The Economist, "The president of the Philippines wants to change the constitution," 28 June 2018
Walker arrived and found that both the fawn and the doe had passed away.

— josh magness, miamiherald, "Pregnant deer was killed by car — but warden rushed to save the baby with a C-section," 11 June 2018
Within seconds the newborn fawn was out and breathing on its own.

— danielle garrand, CBS News, "Oklahoma game warden saves unborn fawn by performing emergency C-section on dead doe," 10 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of fawn

Middle English foun, from Anglo-French feun, foon young of an animal, from Vulgar Latin *feton-, feto, from Latin fetus offspring — more at fetus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year