fawn

1 of 2

verb

ˈfȯn 

ˈfän

fawned; fawning; fawns

intransitive verb

1

: to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner

courtiers fawning on the king

2

: to show affection

—used especially of a dog

The dog was fawning on its master.

fawner noun

fawn

2 of 2

noun

1

: a young deer

especially : one still unweaned or retaining a distinctive baby coat

2

: kid sense 2

3

: a light grayish brown

fawny

ˈfȯ-nē 

ˈfä-

adjective

Did you know?

Language lovers, rejoice! If you’re the sort of person who fawns over etymology (one of the best sorts of people, in our opinion), then you’ll be glad to know the story of fawn: it comes ultimately from the Old English adjective fægen or fagan, meaning “glad,” by way of Old English fagnian, meaning “to rejoice.” Hooray! But we’re not finished yet, my dear. Note that this fawn is not, despite appearances, related to the noun fawn that refers to a young deer. For that we can thank the Latin noun fetus, meaning “offspring.”

Synonyms

Verb

• apple-polish
• bootlick
• fuss
• kowtow
• suck (up)
• toady
• truckle

Choose the Right Synonym for fawn

fawn, toady, truckle, cringe, cower mean to behave abjectly before a superior.

fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

Examples of fawn in a Sentence

Verb

a sports star surrounded by fawning fans

a student who could not wait to fawn over the new teacher

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Throughout his presidency, Trump fawned over such dictators. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Nov. 2024

But at Lupi & Iris, helmed by James Beard Award-winner Adam Seigel, restraint is an art, and the food, inspired by the French and Italian Riviera, needn’t be flashy nor festooned to be fawned over. —Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024

Noun

Before Orion could disinter his fawn, though, he’d been run off by a bear. —Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Selfie Love Kerry Washington and Issa Rae fawn over each other at the Forbes Power Women Summit in New York City on Sept. 11. —Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English faunen, from Old English fagnian to rejoice, from fægen, fagan glad — more at fain entry 1

Noun

Middle English foun, from Anglo-French feun, foon young of an animal, from Vulgar Latin *feton-, feto, from Latin fetus offspring — more at fetus

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fawn

• fawn lily

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Kids Definition

fawn

1 of 2 verb

ˈfȯn 

ˈfän

1

: to show affection

—used especially of a dog

2

: to try to win favor by behavior that shows lack of self-respect

fawner noun

fawningly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb

fawn

2 of 2 noun

1

: a young deer

especially : one in its first year

2

: a light grayish brown

Etymology

Verb

Old English fagnian "to rejoice," from fægen "glad, fain"

Noun

early French feen, foon "young of an animal," derived from Latin fetus "offspring"