frown
1 of 2verb
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
Noah Webster frowner noun
frowningly
ˈfrau̇-niŋ-lē
adverb frown
2 of 2noun
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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 24 Aug. 2022 Uber and other ride-sharing apps frown upon eating while riding. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 16 July 2022 But the opinion also indicated that antitrust law might generally frown upon a sanctioning body like U.S. Soccer picking sides when leagues or tours are competing for consumers, Schwarz said. Louise Radnofsky, WSJ, 19 July 2022 Comebacks can and do happen, but the unwritten rules frown on the winning team trying too hard in a blowout; at a certain point, only the losing team is allowed to try. Gregg Doyel, The Indianapolis Star, 27 June 2022 Our city recently elected a Fun Mayor, Eric Adams, whose most urgent appeal is for New Yorkers to loosen up, get outside, and turn that frown upside down. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 In my experience, activating the PayPal app overseas can be tricky because of the company’s security measures, which frown upon foreign IP addresses. Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2022 Unlike other organizations which might frown upon the idea of a sub offering pointers, hearing those opinions is part of Orpheus’s vetting process. Anne Quito, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2022 Another shortcoming some people will frown at is the fact that the s9+ doesn’t have a mop feature. Maren Estrada, BGR, 31 Mar. 2022 Amanda Taylor, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Walker is one of those teammates who’s watched Brissett be the person same every day, in good times and bad, except for that initial frown. Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2022 Your boss wears a frown and uses a certain tone of voice. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 Known for her natural onscreen charisma (and that signature frown), Pugh is one of the best actresses working today. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Aug. 2022 One scene later, Quiñonez turned his proverbial frown upside down and recommitted himself to his life in the bush. Fred Dreier, Outside Online, 6 July 2022 Artists analyzed the footage and identified the actor’s expressions — a smile, a frown, a scream, etc. — to note how the dots moved in those instances, which Inversin compared to establishing key frames for each character. Alyse Stanley, Washington Post, 28 June 2022 Bill Russell dipped down his newspaper and looked me over with a frown. Kareem Abdul-jabbar, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2022 By this midflight, a single cup of water has been doled out to each passenger, the sum of amenities from cabin attendants radiating the imperious frown and spirit of truculence that is the hallmark of Aeroflot. New York Times, 11 July 2022 See More
Verb
The answer is no, the person can really frown like with their eyebrows in their dream. Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 24 Aug. 2022 Uber and other ride-sharing apps frown upon eating while riding. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 16 July 2022 But the opinion also indicated that antitrust law might generally frown upon a sanctioning body like U.S. Soccer picking sides when leagues or tours are competing for consumers, Schwarz said. Louise Radnofsky, WSJ, 19 July 2022 Comebacks can and do happen, but the unwritten rules frown on the winning team trying too hard in a blowout; at a certain point, only the losing team is allowed to try. Gregg Doyel, The Indianapolis Star, 27 June 2022 Our city recently elected a Fun Mayor, Eric Adams, whose most urgent appeal is for New Yorkers to loosen up, get outside, and turn that frown upside down. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 In my experience, activating the PayPal app overseas can be tricky because of the company’s security measures, which frown upon foreign IP addresses. Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2022 Unlike other organizations which might frown upon the idea of a sub offering pointers, hearing those opinions is part of Orpheus’s vetting process. Anne Quito, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2022 Another shortcoming some people will frown at is the fact that the s9+ doesn’t have a mop feature. Maren Estrada, BGR, 31 Mar. 2022 Noun
Goldberg consulted her notes with a frown as Sara Haines laughed into her hands. Amanda Taylor, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Walker is one of those teammates who’s watched Brissett be the person same every day, in good times and bad, except for that initial frown. Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2022 Your boss wears a frown and uses a certain tone of voice. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 Known for her natural onscreen charisma (and that signature frown), Pugh is one of the best actresses working today. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Aug. 2022 One scene later, Quiñonez turned his proverbial frown upside down and recommitted himself to his life in the bush. Fred Dreier, Outside Online, 6 July 2022 Artists analyzed the footage and identified the actor’s expressions — a smile, a frown, a scream, etc. — to note how the dots moved in those instances, which Inversin compared to establishing key frames for each character. Alyse Stanley, Washington Post, 28 June 2022 Bill Russell dipped down his newspaper and looked me over with a frown. Kareem Abdul-jabbar, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2022 By this midflight, a single cup of water has been doled out to each passenger, the sum of amenities from cabin attendants radiating the imperious frown and spirit of truculence that is the hallmark of Aeroflot. New York Times, 11 July 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
frown 1 of 2
verb
ˈfrau̇n
frowned; frowning
1
: to have a serious facial expression (as in anger or thought)
2
: to look with disapproval
… Jo frowned upon the whole project and would have nothing to do with it … Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Louisa May Alcott, Little Womenfrown
2 of 2noun
: a serious facial expression that shows anger, unhappiness, or deep thought
frowned
verb
as in glared
to look with anger or disapproval the boss just stood there and frowned at his assistant who, once again, was in trouble Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- glared
- stared
- scowled
- glowered
- gazed
- gloomed
- grimaced
- gaped
- loured
- lowered
- sneered
- looked daggers
- stared daggers
- pouted
- snarled
- ogled
- sulked
- sniggered
- growled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- smiled
- grinned
- beamed
- out of the frame
- out of the frying pan into the fire
- out of the goodness of one's heart
- out of the kindness of one's heart
- out of the loop
- out of the ordinary
- out of the park
- out of the picture
- out of the question
- out of the reach of
- out of the running
- out of the way
- out of the woods
- out of thin air
- out of this world
- out of touch
- out of true
- out of tune
- out of turn
- out of wedlock
- out of whack
- out of whole cloth
- out of work
- out on a limb
- out on one's ear