Meaning & use

faint

adjective·Everyday

Barely perceptible; weak or indistinct in sound, light, smell, or feeling.

See it in a sentence

A faint smell of smoke drifted through the hallway from the kitchen.

She heard a faint knock at the door but wasn't sure she'd imagined it.

A note on using this word

As a verb, 'faint' means to briefly lose consciousness, usually from heat, shock, or low blood pressure.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

strongclear

Another way to use it

2. verb

To briefly lose consciousness, often due to heat, shock, or a sudden drop in blood pressure.

He fainted in the heat after standing in line for over an hour.

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