# fawn

/ˈfɔn/ (US) · /fˈɔːn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fawn
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

to act too friendly or give too much praise to someone powerful because you want them to like you. You use this when someone is trying too hard to please a boss or a leader.

For teachers: to seek favour or attention through excessive flattery or obsequious behaviour. Intransitive; typically describes a subordinate's interaction with a superior.

## Examples

- The employees fawn over the new manager to get a promotion.
- It was embarrassing to watch the junior associates fawn over the senior partner during the entire dinner party.
- While some advisors were willing to fawn over the monarch to secure their positions, the chancellor remained stoic and offered only blunt, honest assessments of the kingdom's finances.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He fawns the boss" but "He fawns over the boss" — Fawn is intransitive and requires the preposition 'over' before the person being praised.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and is almost always followed by the preposition 'over'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.