(fainter, faintest, faints, fainting, fainted)
1.
A faint sound, colour, mark, feeling, or quality has very little strength or intensity.
He became aware of the soft, faint sounds of water dripping...
He could see faint lines in her face...
There was still the faint hope deep within him that she might never need to know.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• faintly
He was already asleep in the bed, which smelled faintly of mildew...
She felt faintly ridiculous.
= slightly
ADV: usu ADV after v, also ADV adj
2.
A faint attempt at something is one that is made without proper effort and with little enthusiasm.
Caroline made a faint attempt at a laugh...
A faint smile crossed the Monsignor's face and faded quickly...
ADJ: ADJ n
• faintly
John smiled faintly and shook his head.
ADV: ADV after v
3.
If you faint, you lose consciousness for a short time, especially because you are hungry, or because of pain, heat, or shock.
She suddenly fell forward on to the table and fainted...
I thought he'd faint when I kissed him.
= pass out
VERB: V, V
•
Faint is also a noun.
She slumped to the ground in a faint.
N-COUNT: oft in a N
4.
Someone who is faint feels weak and unsteady as if they are about to lose consciousness.
Other signs of angina are nausea, sweating, feeling faint and shortness of breath.
ADJ: v-link ADJ