Word
fond
US/ˈfɑnd/
UK/fˈɒnd/
Definitions
01liking something
B1 · Intermediate
adj. liking someone or something very much, especially for a long time.
adj. having a strong liking, affection, or preference for something. Predicative use usually requires the preposition 'of'.
“My grandfather was very fond of his old garden and spent every morning there.”
“Over the years, she grew increasingly fond of the quiet coastal village, eventually deciding to settle there permanently after her retirement.”
Usage
Always used with the preposition 'of' when followed by an object.
Pitfall
I am fond to play tennis.
I am fond of playing tennis.
The adjective 'fond' must be followed by 'of' and a noun or gerund, never a 'to' infinitive.
Antonyms
02affectionate
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. showing love or warm feelings through your actions or words.
adj. demonstrating affection or warmth. Often used attributively to describe memories, looks, or gestures.
Español:afectuoso
“She gave him a fond smile as he walked through the door.”
“He kept a fond memory of their first meeting, often recounting the story with great detail at family gatherings.”
Synonyms
03unlikely or foolish
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. describing a hope or belief that is probably not going to happen.
adj. describing a hope or expectation that is foolishly optimistic or unlikely to be realised.
“He had a fond hope that the car would start despite the freezing weather.”
“The politician clung to the fond belief that the public would overlook the scandal once the new policy was announced.”
Teaching tip
In modern English, this sense is almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'fond hope' or 'fond belief'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
04cooking residue
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Cooking Technical
n. the brown bits of food left in a pan after cooking meat or vegetables.
n. the browned particles of food, typically meat, remaining in a pan after sautéing or roasting, used as a base for sauces.
“Add some wine to the pan to loosen the fond and make a tasty sauce.”
“The chef deglazed the pan with a splash of brandy, carefully scraping up the fond to enrich the base of the reduction.”
Usage
Borrowed from French; usually treated as an uncountable noun in culinary contexts.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fond” in context.
Verb
01. become fond of gardening
“During the lockdown, many people became fond of gardening as a way to relax.”
verb + adj + prep
02. grow fond of the city
“Although she hated the cold at first, she gradually grew fond of the city.”
verb + adj + prep
Adjective
03. extremely fond of music
“He is extremely fond of classical music and attends the opera every month.”
adv + adj
04. fond farewell
“The retiring teacher bid a fond farewell to her students on the last day of term.”
adj + noun
05. fond memories
“We spent the evening sharing fond memories of our childhood summers by the lake.”
adj + noun
06. fond of traveling
“My grandmother has always been very fond of traveling to remote islands.”
adj + prep
Noun
07. fond hope
“It was his fond hope that the two families would eventually reconcile.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Sarah has fond memories of her father from when she was a young child.” “On his way to space, the boy reflects on fond memories with this special relative.” Etymology
From Middle English fond, fonned, past participle of fonnen (“to be foolish, be simple, dote”), equivalent to fon + -ed. More at fon.
From French, ultimately from Latin fundus. Doublet of fund and fundus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
Domain
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/fond
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0