frown

1 of 2

verb

ˈfrau̇n 

frowned; frowning; frowns

intransitive verb

1

: to contract the brow in displeasure or concentration

frowned in anger

2

: to give evidence of displeasure or disapproval by or as if by facial expression

critics frown on the idea

transitive verb

: to show displeasure with or disapproval of especially by facial expression

I will be neither frowned nor ridiculed into error

—Noah Webster

frowner noun

frowningly

ˈfrau̇-niŋ-lē 

adverb

frown

2 of 2

noun

1

: an expression of displeasure

2

: a wrinkling of the brow in displeasure or concentration

frowny

ˈfrau̇-nē 

adjective informal

a frowny face

Synonyms

Verb

• glare
• gloom
• glower
• lower
• lour
• scowl

Noun

• face
• grimace
• lower
• lour
• moue
• mouth
• mow
• mug
• pout
• scowl
• snoot

Examples of frown in a Sentence

Verb

She was frowning when she entered the room, so I knew that she was annoyed about something.

the boss just stood there and frowned at his assistant who, once again, was in trouble

Noun

it was clear from the frown on the CEO's face that sales were headed in the wrong direction

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

If a fake time limit is being used, that’s often frowned upon by insiders who would shame those developers undertaking such an unseemly route. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones last month said a swelling national debt under Trump would be frowned upon by the bond market. —Bryan Mena, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024

Noun

Dolly sported the biggest frown, with her ears pinned back. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

Their faces spoke louder: frowns of frustration, gasps of shock, squints of doubt, bursts of laughter, pouts of disappointment. —Gerui Wang, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English frounen, from Middle French frogner to snort, frown, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh ffroen nostril, Old Irish srón nose

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing frown

• frown on/upon

Kids Definition

frown

1 of 2 verb

ˈfrau̇n 

1

: to wrinkle the forehead (as in anger or thought)

2

: to show displeasure or disapproval by or as if by facial expression

frowns on rudeness

frowner noun

frowningly

ˈfrau̇-niŋ-lē 

adverb

frown

2 of 2 noun

1

: an expression of displeasure

2

: a wrinkling of the brow in displeasure or thought