English Reference

Word

brown

Phoneticsbrown

US/ˈbɹaʊn/

UK/bɹˈaʊn/

Definitions

01colour

A1 · Beginner

adj. having the colour of earth, wood, or coffee.

adj. of a colour produced by mixing red, yellow, and black, or orange and black.

“He wore a pair of comfortable brown leather shoes for the long walk.”

“The autumn leaves turned a deep, rich brown before finally falling from the ancient oak trees.”

02the colour itself

A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun

n. the colour of chocolate or soil.

n. the hue or pigment resembling the colour of wood or earth.

“The artist used a lot of brown to paint the mountains in the background.”

“The interior designer suggested using various shades of brown to create a warm and grounded atmosphere in the study.”

Synonyms

03to cook

B1 · Intermediate Cooking

v. to cook food until the surface turns brown and often becomes crispy.

v. to cook food over high heat until the surface undergoes a Maillard reaction, resulting in a brown colour.

“Brown the onions in a little oil before adding the other vegetables.”

“The recipe instructs you to brown the meat thoroughly on all sides to lock in the juices before transferring it to the slow cooker.”

Synonyms

searsautétoast

04to tan

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make your skin darker by spending time in the sun.

v. to become or make brown, specifically referring to the darkening of skin through exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

“Her skin began to brown after just a few days at the beach.”

“After a summer spent working outdoors, his arms had browned significantly compared to his shoulders.”

Synonyms

tanburnish

Antonyms

Usage

Commonly used as a gradable adjective; can be modified by degree adverbs like 'very' or 'light'.

Etymology

From Middle English Broun, originally a nickname for someone with brown hair or a dark complexion. In the United States, sometimes an anglicization and translation of German Braun. Doublet of Bruno and Braun.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

ADJECTIVE

Brown(A1)

Related words

Idioms

Domain

Cooking

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/brown

English Reference