# fond

/ˈfɑnd/ (US) · /fˈɒnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fond
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. liking something

adjective · CEFR B1

liking someone or something very much, especially for a long time.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. affectionate

adjective · CEFR B2

showing love or warm feelings through your actions or words.

For teachers: demonstrating affection or warmth. Often used attributively to describe memories, looks, or gestures.

- 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.

### 3. unlikely or foolish

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

describing a hope or belief that is probably not going to happen.

For teachers: 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'.

### 4. cooking residue

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the brown bits of food left in a pan after cooking meat or vegetables.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I am very fond of my old school friends.
- She has grown quite fond of her morning routine, which always starts with a quiet walk in the park.
- Despite the difficult conditions of his childhood, he retained a fond memory of the small library where he first discovered his passion for literature.

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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.