frown

frown — verb

1. to press your eyebrows downward and toward each other, creating folds on your fo

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to press your eyebrows downward and toward each other, creating folds on your forehead, as a reaction when you feel annoyed, find something unacceptable, or are thinking hard about something

Example

Imani frowned at the restaurant bill, surprised by the extra charges.

frowned at [something] showing displeasure

The librarian frowned when two children started running between the bookshelves.

Common collocations
  • frown at
  • frown on/upon
  • frown slightly
  • frown deeply
  • frown in concentration
Synonyms
  • scowl

    shows stronger anger or hostility, with the mouth turned down more sharply

  • grimace

    twisting the whole face, usually from pain, disgust, or strong dislike rather than concentration

  • glare

    staring angrily at someone with wide-open eyes, not necessarily with lowered eyebrows

Antonyms
  • smile

    shows happiness, approval, or friendliness — the opposite facial expression

Grammar Patterns

frown at [someone/something]

frown on/upon [something]

Usage Note

The phrasal verb 'frown on' or 'frown upon' has a distinct meaning: to disapprove of a type of behaviour or activity, not just to make a facial expression. This form is often used in the passive: 'Cheating is frowned upon in this school.'

Phrasal verbs

frown on/upon

phrasal verb

to disapprove of a type of behaviour, activity, or situation because of social or moral rules, often without stating the disapproval openly

The school frowns upon students wearing hats inside the classroom.

In many companies, using social media during work hours is frowned upon.

frown on

phrasal verb

To show disapproval or dislike of something.

My parents frown on playing video games all day.

Does your school frown on wearing hats in class?

frown upon

phrasal verb

To consider something as not acceptable or proper.

Many cultures frown upon eating with your left hand.

The manager frowned upon employees using phones during meetings.

frown — noun

Word family

  • frowning
    adjectiveB2
  • frowningly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe facial expressions of negative feelings, but each has a different cause and intensity. Frown is the most general — it can show annoyance, worry, or concentration, with the eyebrows pulled together. Scowl signals stronger anger or hostility, with the mouth turned down more sharply and often a threatening look directed at someone. Grimace involves twisting the whole face, usually from physical pain, disgust, or a strong unpleasant sensation — for example, grimacing after swallowing bitter medicine. Glare means staring angrily at someone with wide-open eyes, fixing the displeasure on a specific target. A person might frown while solving a difficult puzzle, scowl at a rude driver, grimace at a sour taste, and glare at someone who interrupted their work.

frownscowlgrimaceglare

Common collocations

Nouns

  • face
  • eyebrows
  • forehead
  • expression

Adverbs

  • deeply
  • slightly
  • briefly
  • darkly

Phrases

  • with a frown
  • a frown of disapproval
  • a frown of concentration

Prepositions

  • at
  • on
  • upon

Etymology

Old FrenchCelticEnglish

Frown came into English from Old French 'frognier', meaning to frown or look grim. That word probably came from a Celtic source related to wrinkling the nose. Over time, the meaning shifted from a nose-wrinkling expression of disgust to the brow-furrowing expression we use today. The word has been in English since the late 1300s.