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faint
/feɪnt/
slight or weak
There was a faint smell of smoke in the air.
The smell was barely noticeable.
neutral
barely perceptible; weak or slight
She heard a faint whisper in the dark.
The whisper was very quiet and hard to hear.
His hopes of winning were faint.
His chances of winning were very slim.
Used for senses that are difficult to perceive or very weak in intensity.
Medicine
neutral
to lose consciousness temporarily
She fainted from the heat and exhaustion.
She temporarily lost consciousness due to the heat and tiredness.
Often used in medical or everyday contexts to describe passing out.
Medicine
neutral
a spontaneous loss of consciousness
He suffered from faints due to low blood pressure.
He experienced episodes of losing consciousness because of low blood pressure.
Refers to the act or instance of fainting.
Pro Tip
Distinguish adjective vs. verb
Use 'faint' as an adjective to describe something weak (e.g., 'a faint light'). Use it as a verb to describe losing consciousness (e.g., 'She fainted after standing too long.').
Gold Rule
Adjective placement
As an adjective, 'faint' typically comes before the noun (e.g., 'a faint noise') or after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem' (e.g., 'The light was faint.').
Word Origin
From Middle English 'feint' (deceitful, cowardly), from Old French 'feint' (pretended, feigned), past participle of 'feindre' (to feign), from Latin 'fingere' (to shape, form, pretend). The sense of 'weak' emerged in the 16th century, while 'to lose consciousness' dates to the 17th century.
Usage Notes
As an adjective, 'faint' describes something barely perceptible or weak. As a verb, it means to lose consciousness temporarily. The noun form refers to the act of fainting. Avoid confusing the adjective with the verb; context usually clarifies the meaning.
Word Breakdown
faint
weak or slight
rootEnglish Dictionary