Faint
/feɪnt/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo lose consciousness or become unconscious.
/feɪnt/
To lose consciousness temporarily.
The heat was so intense that several people fainted.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're standing in the sun for a long time, and then *whoosh*, everything goes dark for a little bit. That's fainting! Your body can't handle something and shuts down for a short time.
👶 For kids: To fall down and not wake up for a little bit.
More Examples
She felt dizzy and almost fainted during the exam.
How It's Used
"She fainted due to low blood sugar."
"He fainted after the heat got to him."
Weak or lacking in intensity; indistinct; feeble.
/feɪnt/
Lacking strength or vigor; weak.
She heard a faint noise in the distance.
💡 Simply: If something is faint, it's not very strong or noticeable. Imagine a whisper – it's a faint sound. Or a tiny drawing of a shape that can barely be seen. It's like when a smell is only *barely* there!
👶 For kids: Not strong or hard to see.
More Examples
The painting had a faint image on it.
How It's Used
"He had a faint pulse."
"A faint scent of roses filled the air."
An instance of losing consciousness; a temporary loss of strength or awareness.
/feɪnt/
A sudden loss of consciousness.
The doctor suspected the patient suffered from frequent faints.
💡 Simply: A faint is when someone passes out for a short time. It's like the verb 'faint' but describes the event itself.
👶 For kids: When you fall down and can't wake up for a short time.
More Examples
His medical records showed a history of faints.
How It's Used
"She had a sudden faint after the injury."
"Her faint was attributed to heat exhaustion."
Idioms & expressions
faint heart never won fair lady
Someone who lacks courage will not be successful in love or achieving their desires. If you don't put yourself out there, you will not get the person you desire.
"He was nervous about asking her out, but he remembered: a faint heart never won fair lady."
From Old French *faindre* ('to feign, be weak'), from Latin *fingere* ('to shape, mold, imagine').
The word "faint" has been used in English since the 13th century, initially in the sense of being "feeble" or "weak."
Memory tip
Imagine someone who has to 'faint' for a play; they fall down suddenly.
Word Origin
"To feign, be weak (from *fingere* - to shape, mold, imagine)"