fawn

verb

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\ ˈfȯn

, ˈfän \

fawned; fawning; fawns

Definition of fawn

(Entry 1 of 2)

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.

fawn

noun

Definition of fawn (Entry 2 of 2)

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

2 : kid sense 2

3 : a light grayish brown

Other Words from fawn Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did you know? More Example Sentences Phrases Containing fawn Learn More About fawn

Choose the Right Synonym for fawn

Verb

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

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." This fawn is not, however, related to the noun fawn, referring to a young deer. For that we can thank the Latin noun fetus, meaning "offspring."

Examples of fawn in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Nobody associated with the show was too minor for Golden-Coners to fawn over. — New York Times, 4 May 2022 The social media platform has served as somewhat of a safe space for Jack Harlow fans to openly fawn over him. — Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Apr. 2022 Spring will bring more fawn births and the CWD-positive captive herds around the state will continue to grow. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2022 When traumatized or distressed, our flight, fight, freeze or fawn response gets triggered. — Womensmedia, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2022 On television, anchors used slow-motion video to analyze and fawn over Charlie’s backswing, his follow-through, his hip turn. — Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2021 That Seth accepts the nickname without being so gauche as to acknowledge the honor and fawn over Bill is proof that Bill picked the right fella to knight. — Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2021 This freestanding fawn and doe decoration set is made with rigid sisal material that’s wrapped around a metal frame for a touch of texture. — Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 6 Nov. 2021 Being a scent that will always receive compliments is one of the main reasons why people fawn over Baccarat Rouge so much. — Lucy Partington, refinery29.com, 28 Oct. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Throughout are signs of Gabrielle Chanel's private life in her Rue 31 Cambon apartment, such as a wing chair, a Goossens table with a wheatsheaf base, and a large fawn velvet banquette. — Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 Patrick Foy of the state wildlife agency’s law enforcement division said their behavior was consistent with incidents in which people take a wild animal, such as a deer fawn, as a pet. — Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2022 Stars were appearing in the early night sky when the big doe showed up with a fawn in tow. — Steve Meyer, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Mar. 2022 The Columbus Zoo is celebrating its newest addition, an adorable tufted deer fawn. — Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 23 Feb. 2022 The fawn is still receiving one bottle feeding every morning as part of his diet. — Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 23 Feb. 2022 The fawn was given his moniker by the staff that oversees his care. — Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 23 Feb. 2022 After the successful rescue, the fawn was taken to an animal rescue for treatment. — Tristan Balagtas, PEOPLE.com, 25 Jan. 2022 But Lea, like an awkward fawn, falls for all of it. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 Jan. 2022 See More

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.

History and Etymology for fawn

Verb

Middle English faunen, from Old English fagnian to rejoice, from fægen, fagan glad — more at fain entry 1

Noun

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