faint
gb/fˈeɪnt/ us/fˈeɪnt/
A2
English
~ 1400
halvány, alig észrevehető, enyhe, elájul, mindjárt elájul, kerülgeti az ájulás
B1
1
Usage pattern:
a faint [sound/light/smell/hope]
There was a faint smell of smoke in the air.
Enyhe füstszag érződött a levegőben.
She gave me a faint smile before leaving.
Halványan rám mosolygott, mielőtt elment.
I could hear the faint sound of music from the next room.
A faint light shone through the curtains.
Learner examples
I saw a faint light in the distance.
Halvány fényt láttam a távolban.
There is a faint smell of food.
Enyhe ételszag van a levegőben.
I heard a faint sound from the street.
She gave a faint smile.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'faint' with 'feint', which means a deceptive movement in sports or fighting.
Meaning
Weak or barely perceptible
Collocations
faint smell
|faint sound
|faint hope
|faint light
Synonyms
dim (Refers mainly to low light or brightness.)
|
weak (General term for low strength or intensity.)
Antonyms
strong (Indicates high strength or intensity.)
|
bright (Used when describing vivid light or color.)
Themes
daily life
|perception
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not strong or clear; hard to see, hear, smell, or feel.
Very weak in strength, brightness, sound, or clarity; difficult to detect.
VERB
A2
2
elájul
B1
Usage pattern:
to faint from [heat/excitement/pain]
Several fans fainted during the concert due to the heat.
A hőség miatt több rajongó is elájult a koncert alatt.
She felt dizzy and fainted after standing up too quickly.
Elszédült, majd elájult, miután túl gyorsan felállt.
He almost fainted when he saw the bill.
Learner examples
She fainted in the hot sun.
Elájult a forró napsütésben.
I will faint if I do not eat.
El fogok ájulni, ha nem eszem.
He fainted after running fast.
The man fainted in the crowd.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'faint' with 'paint' because they sound similar.
Meaning
Lose consciousness briefly
Collocations
nearly faint
|make someone faint
|feel faint
Synonyms
pass out (More informal; often used for unconsciousness from alcohol or exhaustion.)
Antonyms
revive (To regain consciousness or bring someone back to consciousness.)
Themes
health
|human body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To suddenly become unconscious for a short time.
To suddenly lose consciousness for a short time, usually because of lack of oxygen to the brain, heat, pain, or shock.
A2
3
Usage pattern:
to feel faint
I felt faint after standing in the sun for too long.
Miután túl sokáig álltam a napon, úgy éreztem, mindjárt elájulok.
She looked faint and needed to sit down.
Úgy nézett ki, mint aki mindjárt elájul, és le kellett ülnie.
He became faint from hunger.
Learner examples
I feel faint when I am hungry.
Ha éhes vagyok, úgy érzem, mindjárt elájulok.
She looks faint now.
Most úgy néz ki, mint aki mindjárt elájul.
He feels faint after running.
Meaning
Feeling weak and lightheaded
Collocations
feel faint
|look faint
Synonyms
lightheaded (Emphasizes dizziness rather than weakness.)
Antonyms
alert (Fully awake and aware.)
Themes
health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Feeling weak and like you might fall down or sleep suddenly.
Feeling weak, dizzy, and likely to lose consciousness.
Grammar
Dictionary form
faint
IPA
GB/fˈeɪnt/
US/fˈeɪnt/
Syllables & stress
faint (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (faint)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: faint
- Comparative: fainter
- Superlative: faintest
Verb
- Base: faint
- 3rd Person Singular: faints
- Present Participle: fainting
- Past: fainted
Word family
Forms
faints
verb
fainting
verb
fainted
verb
fainter
adjective
faintest
adjective
Core family
faintly
adverb B1
Related words
faintness
noun
Expressions
faint of heart
1/fˈeɪnt əv hˈɑɹt/
idiom
People who are easily frightened
People who get scared easily or do not have much courage.
Examples
- This horror movie is not for the faint of heart.
- Climbing that mountain is not for the faint of heart.
paint a picture in faint colors
1/pˈeɪnt ə pˈɪkt͡ʃɚ ˈɪn fˈeɪnt kˈʌlɚz/
fixed phrase
literary
Describe something weakly or softly
To talk about something in a way that does not make it seem strong or exciting.
Examples
- The report painted the future in faint colors, suggesting slow progress.
- She painted her childhood memories in faint colors, avoiding painful details.