frown
to contract the brow, as in displeasure or deep thought; scowl.
to look displeased; have an angry look.
to view with disapproval; look disapprovingly (usually followed by on or upon): to frown upon a scheme.
to express by a frown: to frown one's displeasure.
to force or shame with a disapproving frown: to frown someone into silence.
a frowning look; scowl.
any expression or show of disapproval: a tax bill that received Congressional frowns.
Origin of frown
1Other words for frown
Other words from frown
- frowner, noun
- frown·ing·ly, adverb
- half-frowning, adjective
- half-frown·ing·ly, adverb
- un·frown·ing, adjective
Words Nearby frown
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use frown in a sentence
A deep frown will definitely take more muscles to pull off than a faint smile.
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about muscles | Claire Maldarelli and Sara Chodosh | October 3, 2021 | Popular-ScienceIt also depends on how you define a frown or a smile, he says.
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about muscles | Claire Maldarelli and Sara Chodosh | October 3, 2021 | Popular-ScienceSurprisingly, that’s enough facial real estate to tell a sneer from a smile, or a laugh from a frown.
New device tells smiles from frowns — even through a mask | Kathryn Hulick | December 4, 2020 | Science News For StudentsIn the 1980s, Jean and Alastair Carruthers, a Canadian ophthalmologist and dermatologist, accidentally discovered the toxin’s anti-aging properties when they noticed patients receiving injections for facial spasm were also losing their frown lines.
Can you get too much Botox? | By Matthew J. Lin/The Conversation | October 1, 2020 | Popular-Science“Lilly… Ledbetter…” we whisper to ourselves as we frown at men.
Early the next morning, “frown,” Jai Johany Johnson, is living up to his nickname in the hotel restaurant.
Stacks: Hitting the Note with the Allman Brothers Band | Grover Lewis | March 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWe watched her float about, a meandering frown, for two whole hours in the season premiere as she mourned the death of Matthew.
‘Downton Abbey’ Finale Review: The Depressing Demise of a Once-Great Show | Kevin Fallon | February 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI made choices that took me down a path that many people frown upon.
Traditional matchmakers, eager to distinguish themselves from a dating service, would frown on this feature.
Anna Gristina, the Accused Mommy Madam, and Her Matchmaking Defense | Tracy Quan | June 25, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTThe tiny frown reappeared between her eyes, lingered a trifle longer than before, and vanished.
The Wave | Algernon BlackwoodHis brows came together in a frown, from which the Seneschal argued that his suggestion was not well received.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniIn fact, so much of her smooth brow as could be seen under a broad-brimmed straw hat was wrinkled in a decided frown.
The Red Year | Louis TracyOld David Arden stepped back a little, growing pale, with a sudden frown.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuA frown momentarily darkened the cloudless brow of Aristide Pujol.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
British Dictionary definitions for frown
/ (fraʊn) /
(intr) to draw the brows together and wrinkle the forehead, esp in worry, anger, or concentration
(intr; foll by on or upon) to have a dislike (of); look disapprovingly (upon): the club frowned upon political activity by its members
(tr) to express (worry, etc) by frowning
(tr often foll by down) to force, silence, etc, by a frowning look
the act of frowning
a show of dislike or displeasure
Origin of frown
1Derived forms of frown
- frowner, noun
- frowningly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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