faint
gb/fˈeɪnt/ us/fˈeɪnt/
A2
English
~ 1400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Weak or barely perceptible
Not strong or clear; hard to see, hear, smell, or feel.
Usage pattern:
a faint [sound/light/smell/hope]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'faint' with 'feint', which means a deceptive movement in sports or fighting.
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.)
Collocations
faint smell
|faint sound
|faint hope
|faint light
Themes
daily life
|perception
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a faint smell of smoke in the air.
- She gave me a faint smile before leaving.
- 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.
- There is a faint smell of food.
- I heard a faint sound from the street.
- She gave a faint smile.
Verb
A2
action
2
Lose consciousness briefly
To suddenly become unconscious for a short time.
Usage pattern:
to faint from [heat/excitement/pain]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'faint' with 'paint' because they sound similar.
Synonyms
pass out (More informal; often used for unconsciousness from alcohol or exhaustion.)
Antonyms
revive (To regain consciousness or bring someone back to consciousness.)
Collocations
nearly faint
|make someone faint
|feel faint
Themes
health
|human body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Several fans fainted during the concert due to the heat.
- She felt dizzy and fainted after standing up too quickly.
- He almost fainted when he saw the bill.
Learner examples
- She fainted in the hot sun.
- I will faint if I do not eat.
- He fainted after running fast.
- The man fainted in the crowd.
adjective
A2
state
3
Feeling weak and lightheaded
Feeling weak and like you might fall down or sleep suddenly.
Usage pattern:
to feel faint
Synonyms
lightheaded (Emphasizes dizziness rather than weakness.)
Antonyms
alert (Fully awake and aware.)
Collocations
feel faint
|look faint
Themes
health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I felt faint after standing in the sun for too long.
- She looked faint and needed to sit down.
- He became faint from hunger.
Learner examples
- I feel faint when I am hungry.
- She looks faint now.
- He feels faint after running.
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.