faint
verb
What faint means
To suddenly lose consciousness for a short time, often because of heat, shock or no food.
She fainted when she saw the blood.
I felt hot and dizzy, and then I fainted.
Test yourself
Five questions about faint
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Question 1 of 5Meaning
What does faint mean?
If you faint, you suddenly fall down and stop being aware of anything for a few seconds, for example on a very hot day or after a shock.
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Question 2 of 5Situation
It was very hot in the crowded train. A woman went pale, fell to the floor and woke up a few seconds later. She…
Suddenly falling down and waking up a few seconds later means she fainted, probably because of the heat. Shivering, sneezing and stretching do not make you lose consciousness.
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Question 3 of 5Gap
Several fans ___ in the heat while they waited for hours outside the stadium.
Standing for hours in strong heat can make people lose consciousness, so they fainted. People shiver in the cold, not in the heat, and they snore when they are asleep.
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Question 4 of 5Similar word
Which phrase is closest in meaning to faint?
To pass out is an informal way to say you lose consciousness for a short time, which is exactly what faint means. Throw up means to be sick, and work out means to exercise.
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Question 5 of 5Correct use
Which sentence uses faint correctly?
Faint is a normal verb, so the past is he fainted, without was, and fainting alone cannot be the verb. After feel we use the adjective: he felt faint.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer, Enter goes on.
Faint in a sentence
5 more examples of faint in everyday situations.
- At the gym
If you feel faint during the class, sit down and drink some water.
- In the news
Several fans fainted in the heat while they waited outside the stadium.
- At the doctor
Have you ever fainted before, or is this the first time?
- A message
Almost fainted on the subway this morning, it was so hot and crowded.
- With friends
I nearly fainted when I saw the price of the concert tickets.
How to use faint
If you feel faint, you feel like you might lose consciousness. Fainting is usually brief and the person wakes up in seconds. Lie the person down and raise their legs.
Faint is also an adjective meaning very weak or hard to see or hear: a faint sound.
Forms
- faintshe, she, it
- faintedpast and past participle
- fainting-ing form; noun
- faintadjective, weak or not clear
- faintlyadverb
Patterns
- faint from heat / hunger / pain
- feel faint
- nearly / almost faint
Common mistakes with faint
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NotShe is fainted.
SayShe fainted.
Faint does not take be in the past, so we say she fainted, just like she fell or she slept.
Faint or pass out or dizzy?
- faint or pass out
- Pass out means the same and is more common in everyday spoken English; faint is a little more formal and is the usual word in medical advice. Pass out is also used for falling asleep after drinking too much.
- faint or dizzy
- Dizzy is the feeling that the room is spinning; when you faint, you actually lose consciousness and usually fall. People often feel dizzy just before they faint.
Faint is a C1 word. Is that your level? Take the level test or count the words you know.
Faint word family and collocations
The words that go with faint, so you can use it in a whole phrase.
Common collocations
- faint from
- feel faint
- faint with hunger
- a faint noise
- nearly faint
Word family
- faint (verb, adjective)
- fainting (noun)
- faintly (adverb)
Similar words
- pass out
- black out
Questions about faint
What is the past tense of faint?
The past tense and past participle are fainted: “She fainted at the concert.” Do not confuse it with feint, which sounds the same but means a fake movement in sport or fighting.
Does faint have another meaning?
Yes. As an adjective, faint means weak or not clear, as in a faint sound, a faint smell or a faint line. Feel faint means you feel that you might lose consciousness.
The word before
Do you still remember stopover?
One question about the word from 23 October. Remembering a word a day later helps it stay.
One question
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What does stopover mean?
On a long journey you sometimes stop in a city on the way and stay there for a night or two before you continue. That stop is a stopover.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer.
More health words
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B2
fever
A body temperature that is higher than normal, usually because of an infection. -
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therapy
Treatment for a physical or mental problem, often involving regular sessions with a trained professional. -
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chronic
Lasting for a long time or happening again and again, usually describing an illness. -
B2
treatment
Medical care given to a person to cure an illness or reduce pain. -
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fracture
A break or crack in a bone. -
C1
shiver
To shake slightly because you are cold, ill or afraid.