brown

1 of 3

adjective

1
a
: having the color of wood or chocolate
especially : of the color brown (see brown entry 2 sense 1)
a brown cow
brown eyes and hair
as brown as the oak leaves
b
: having dark or tanned skin
Their hands and faces were brown from long days in the sun.
2
or less commonly Brown : of or relating to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin
Black and brown Americans

brown

2 of 3

noun

plural browns
1
: any of a group of colors between red and yellow in hue, of medium to low lightness, and of moderate to low saturation
2
browns or less commonly Browns plural : people belonging to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin

Note: The plural noun browns is used mostly in phrases referring to multiple population groups.

3
brownish adjective
browny adjective

brown

3 of 3

verb

browned; browning; browns

intransitive verb

: to become brown

transitive verb

: to make brown

Examples of brown in a Sentence

Adjective workers whose backs are brown from long hours in the sun Noun The room was decorated in brown. a mix of browns and reds Verb Brown the chicken in a pan with butter. Her skin was browned by the sun. The chicken is browning in the oven.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Available in metallic champagne, black, and brown, the Soul Tia Slip-On is built on a slick, white sole that’s grooved for extra flexibility, with a round toe box and 1.75-inch heel. Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2025 The former Spice Girl’s signature brown lob looked recently transformed into a dramatic ombré lob, with her dark roots fading into platinum blonde ends. Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
In a heartwarming moment that the astronaut captured and shared in a video on X, the visibly excited pups — one tan and one chocolate brown — circle her outside of her Houston home, their tails wagging rapidly. Bailey Richards, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Subtle twitches of the rod tip to get the bait wiggling can be the trigger, but in heavier current, sometimes keeping a tight line and letting the flow give the bait action is enough to fool a giant brown or rainbow. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
The color choices vary from stark white to brown, green, and more, but the sentiment is still the same—this one’s a lasting style for the future. LD-1000 Another retro running sneaker that launched during the ’70s, the LD-1000 debuted in 1977, coming off the success of the Cortez. Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025 In space, ordinary glass tends to brown, which begins to block some of the incoming sunlight, reducing a solar cell's efficiency. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brown

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English broun, from Old English brūn; akin to Old High German brūn brown, Greek phrynē toad

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of brown was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

brown

1 of 3 adjective
1
: of the color brown
2
: of dark or tanned complexion
3
: of or relating to any of various population groups considered to have medium skin color

brown

2 of 3 noun
: a color like that of coffee or chocolate that is a blend of red and yellow darkened by black
brownish adjective

brown

3 of 3 verb
: to make or become brown

Biographical Definition

Brown 1 of 7

biographical name (1)

Charles Brockden 1771–1810 American novelist

Brown

2 of 7

biographical name (2)

Ford Mad*ox ˈma-dəks How to pronounce Brown (audio) 1821–1893 English painter

Brown

3 of 7

biographical name (3)

George 1818–1880 Canadian (Scottish-born) journalist and politician

Brown

4 of 7

biographical name (4)

(James) Gordon 1951–     British prime minister (2007–10)

Brown

5 of 7

biographical name (5)

James (Joseph) 1933–2006 American singer and songwriter

Brown

6 of 7

biographical name (6)

John 1800–1859 Old Brown of Osawatomie ˌō-sə-ˈwä-tə-mē How to pronounce Brown (audio) American abolitionist

Brown

7 of 7

biographical name (7)

Michael Stuart 1941–     American biochemist

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