Word
faintest
US/ˈfeɪntəst/
UK/fˈeɪntəst/
Definition
adj. the most weak or unclear version of something. You use it to describe the smallest amount of a feeling, sound, or light.
adj. the superlative form of 'faint', indicating the least perceptible degree of a quality or the weakest intensity of a stimulus.
Examples
“I heard the faintest sound coming from the basement.”
“Even the faintest hint of a smile on his face suggested that he was finally starting to feel better.”
“The astronomer spent hours scanning the data for the faintest trace of light that might indicate the presence of a distant exoplanet orbiting a dim star.”
Examples
simple
“I heard the faintest sound coming from the basement.”
contextual
“Even the faintest hint of a smile on his face suggested that he was finally starting to feel better.”
complex
“The astronomer spent hours scanning the data for the faintest trace of light that might indicate the presence of a distant exoplanet orbiting a dim star.”
Real-World Examples
“But don't squint—it appears some 10,000 times fainter than the faintest star you can see with your naked eye.” “For the future, for my children, that they’ll grow up holding only the faintest outline of their father.” - 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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