noun / verb

frown

FROWN/fraʊn/

A wrinkling of the brow showing displeasure, concern, or concentration.

The woman's frown pulls her eyebrows together.

A close-up of a young woman frowning, with eyebrows visibly drawn inward and downward and distinct vertical creases between them.

Etymology

frownOld Frenchto scowl, snort, or turn up the nose

Old French frognier covered scowling, snorting, and turning up the nose. English frown focuses that range of displeased gestures on contracting the brows.

In context

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they start up dark and scowling in the midst of scenes of innocent mirth to chill and frown down every participator

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More examples

He frowned at the broken latch.
Several frowns greeted the announcement.
She is frowning at the confusing instructions.

Forms

frown · frowns · frowned · frowning

Similar words

scowl: A stronger angry facial expression.
grimace: A broader distortion of the face, often from pain.