swoon

1 of 2

verb

ˈswün 

swooned; swooning; swoons

intransitive verb

1

a

: faint

b

: to become enraptured

swooning with joy

2

: droop, fade

swooner noun

swooningly

ˈswü-niŋ-lē 

adverb

swoon

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a partial or total loss of consciousness

b

: a state of bewilderment or ecstasy : daze, rapture

2

: a state of suspended animation : torpor

swoony

ˈswü-nē 

adjective

Synonyms of swoon

Verb

• faint

Noun

• daze

Examples of swoon in a Sentence

Verb

She almost swooned from fright.

easily swooned at the sight of blood

Noun

she wandered about in a swoon for several days after receiving the tragic news

fell into a swoon after stepping off of the incredibly fast roller coaster

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The closest Spain got to that was against Cape Verde, but even the most swooning sentimentalists will recognise that the minnows were pretty lucky in that one. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Since the outset of the competition, the team had been swooned over for the deftness of its skills and tipped for golden glory. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026

Noun

At least Machado hasn’t lost the team’s recent swoon to erode his sense of humor. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026

Despite the June swoon, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq still posted their best quarterly performances since 2020. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English swounen, probably back-formation from swouning, swowening, from iswowen, aswoune, from Old English geswōgen in a swoon

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for swoon

• boon
• brune
• coon
• croon
• dune
• goon
• hewn
• hoon
• june
• loon
• moon
• noon

Kids Definition

swoon

1 of 2 verb

ˈswün 

1

: faint entry 2

2

: to drift or fade gradually

swooner noun

swooningly

ˈswü-niŋ-lē 

adverb

swoon

2 of 2 noun

1

: a partial or total loss of consciousness

2

: a dreamlike state