frowning

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "frowning" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a facial expression of disapproval, displeasure, or unhappiness. Example sentence: The boss looked at the report with a frowning expression.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Culture-clash opportunities abound, and Pride lays on plenty of broad, saucy humour: old Welsh ladies visiting Soho leather bars and laughing at dildos; miners frowning into their pints down the village hall while Dominic West camps it up on the dancefloor.

The Guardian - Film

"Nothing ever comes easy, apparently," he says, frowning.

The Guardian - Music

"Depends," one man replies suspiciously, frowning at some wire.

The Guardian

Here she pauses, frowning.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"SCHOOL reform chaos?" asked a frowning satchel depicted on posters plastered around Hamburg. "No thank you".

The Economist

That will be a tough sell in the state legislature.In this section The war comes to Washington Justice shackled Gridlock on the lake Classroom discipline Plastics of evil Escape from LA The frowning clown Reprints Related items Buttonwood: Road runnersJan 18th 2007 Chicago: Pretty in pinkApr 12th 2006Freight traffic is arguably an even bigger problem.

The Economist

His government has launched a campaign for positive thinking called "Smile, Ecuador", but nowadays the mercurial Mr Correa is given to perennial frowning and cryptic warnings of impending coup attempts.

The Economist

They don't want to look beautiful, he says, just "fresher and less worried".Typically, a swift shot of Botox, a toxin which freezes muscles, targets the deep forehead cleft which can descend on men over 40, especially if they spend all day frowning at a screen.

The Economist

Photographs of local managers are prominently displayed in every workplace and marked with a magnetic badge (a red smiley face for good performance, a yellow frowning one for doing badly).

The Economist

Securities regulators contributed to the problem, frowning on boom-time reserve-building as possible profit-smoothing in disguise.

The Economist

Japan and southern Europe have clung to older ways, discouraging women from working and frowning on single-parent families; there, fertility has stayed low, presumably because women resist what they see as unwelcome social pressure by having fewer children.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "frowning" to accurately describe a facial expression indicating displeasure, disapproval, or concentration. Ensure the context aligns with the intended emotion.

Common error

Avoid using "frowning" when a more intense expression like "scowling" or "glaring" is more appropriate. "Frowning" generally conveys mild displeasure or thoughtfulness, not outright anger.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "frowning" is as a verb, specifically the present participle of "frown". It often functions as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund, describing an ongoing action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its usability as a verb and its role in expressing a facial expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "frowning" is a versatile verb form used to describe the facial expression of displeasure, concentration, or confusion. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable in written English, functioning primarily as a verb. Examples from Ludwig show its prevalence in News & Media. While it can convey various emotions, it's important to differentiate it from more intense expressions like "scowling". Use "frowning" to add detail and emotion to your writing by vividly describing someone's facial expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scowling

Indicates a more intense and angry facial expression compared to a simple frown.

glaring

Suggests a hostile or piercing look, often expressing anger or disapproval.

grimacing

Implies a contorted facial expression, usually indicating pain or disgust.

looking displeased

A more descriptive phrase that explicitly states the emotion conveyed by a frown.

knitting brows

Focuses on the specific action of furrowing the eyebrows, which is a component of a frown.

furrowing eyebrows

Describes the action of drawing the eyebrows together, indicating worry or disapproval.

looking stern

Conveys a serious and severe expression, often associated with authority or disapproval.

making a face

A general expression implying a negative reaction or emotion conveyed through facial expression.

looking cross

Indicates a state of annoyance or displeasure, similar to frowning.

with a furrowed brow

Highlights the physical manifestation of concern or disapproval on the forehead.

FAQs

How to use "frowning" in a sentence?

You can use "frowning" to describe someone's facial expression when they are displeased, confused, or concentrating. For example, "She was "frowning" at the complex instructions."

What can I say instead of "frowning"?

You can use alternatives like "scowling", "glaring", or "grimacing" depending on the intensity of the expression.

Which is correct, "frowning" or "frown"?

"Frowning" is the present participle or gerund form of the verb "frown". Use "frowning" to describe an ongoing action, while "frown" is the base verb or noun.

What's the difference between "frowning" and "scowling"?

"Frowning" typically suggests mild displeasure, concentration, or confusion. "Scowling" implies a more intense expression of anger or disapproval.