fain

Meanings

1. 1adverbafter a verbliteraryold-fashioned

   Gladly or willingly; used after 'would' in old or literary writing to mean 'would like to'.

   Grammar: Almost always follows 'would' and comes before the main verb: I would fain go. It is not used on its own.

   Patterns

   • would fain do something

   She would fain stay longer, but the hour was late.

   I would fain believe you, yet the evidence says otherwise.

   They would fain have returned home before the storm broke.

2. 2adjectiveafter a verbliteraryold-fashioned

   Pleased or content to do something; used after 'would' in old or literary writing.

   Grammar: Follows 'would' or 'be' and often takes 'to': I would be fain to help.

   Patterns

   • would be fain to do something

   He would be fain to accept such an offer.

   We are fain to wait until morning.

Common combinations

would fain do something

The old sailor would fain tell his tale to anyone who listened.

would fain have done something

She would fain have spoken, but the moment had passed.

be fain to do something

They were fain to leave before the roads froze.

Synonyms and how they differ

gladly

Much more common and neutral than 'fain'; use it in everyday speech and writing.

willingly

Focuses on having no objection, while 'fain' adds a literary, slightly wistful tone.

rather

Expresses preference ('I would rather go') and is the modern equivalent in many contexts.

Opposites

Commonly confused: fain or feign? fain or faint?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fain”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words