Word
frown
US/ˈfɹaʊn/
UK/fɹˈaʊn/
Definitions
01to wrinkle the brow
B1 · Intermediate
v. to move your eyebrows together so that lines appear on your forehead, usually because you are unhappy or thinking.
v. to contract the brow by drawing the eyebrows together, typically expressing displeasure, confusion, or intense concentration.
日本語:しかめっ面をする※
“The teacher frowned at the noisy students until the room became quiet.”
“She frowned at the complex legal document, struggling to decipher the dense terminology and conflicting clauses.”
Usage
Intransitive; often followed by 'at' when directed toward a person or object.
Synonyms
02to disapprove
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to think that something is wrong or bad.
v. to view something with formal or social disapproval; almost exclusively used in the phrasal construction 'frown on' or 'frown upon'.
“In this office, wearing jeans to a meeting is generally frowned upon.”
“The company's board of directors frowned upon the CEO's aggressive acquisition strategy, fearing it would overextend their financial reserves.”
Usage
Usually occurs in the passive voice as 'is frowned upon'.
Synonyms
03a facial expression
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the look on your face when you move your eyebrows together.
n. a facial expression characterized by the furrowing of the brow, indicating worry, anger, or deep thought.
“He had a deep frown on his face as he tried to fix the broken computer.”
“A slight frown creased her forehead as she listened to the contradictory testimony provided by the witness.”
Usage
Countable noun; frequently used with the verbs 'wear' or 'have'.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English frown, froun (“a threatening appearance; lowering of the clouds”), from frounen (“to frown”). See below.
From Middle English frounen (“to frown as an expression of disapproval, displeasure, shame, fear, or jealousy”), from Old French frognier (“to frown or scowl”), from Gaulish frognā (“nostril”), from Proto-Celtic srognā.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
01. frown at
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/frown
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0