swoon
swoon — verb
- swoonpresent simple I / you / we / they
- swoonshe / she / it
- swoonedpast simple
- swooning-ing form
1. to be so filled with admiration, love, or pleasure that you feel emotionally ove
to be so filled with admiration, love, or pleasure that you feel emotionally overwhelmed — often used when someone has a very strong positive reaction to a celebrity, a romantic partner, a beautiful view, or a delightful experience
The fans swooned when the singer walked onto the stage in a glittering silver dress.
swooned when + event trigger (celebrity appearance)
Every time Leo reads one of Yasmin's poems, he swoons over her choice of words.
swoons over + object of admiration
Chiara swooned at the sight of the ocean view from her hotel balcony.
The librarian swooned when she received a signed first edition of her favourite novel.
Omar practically swooned every time his grandmother told stories about growing up in Marrakech.
- adore
suggests deep, lasting affection rather than a dramatic momentary reaction
- idolize
implies putting someone on a pedestal, often unreasonably
- be charmed by
less intense; gentle attraction rather than overwhelming emotion
- be indifferent to
to feel no particular emotion about someone or something
文法句型
swoon + over/at + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in pop culture contexts, especially the adjective form 'swoon-worthy'. This sense describes an emotional reaction, not a physical loss of consciousness — distinguish from sense 2 (FAINT).
常見錯誤
2. to suddenly lose consciousness for a short time, usually because of a physical c
to suddenly lose consciousness for a short time, usually because of a physical cause such as extreme heat, shock, hunger, or a temporary drop in blood pressure
The old woman swooned from the heat after standing in the sun for nearly an hour.
swooned from + cause (heat)
Several passengers swooned when the ferry became stuck in the sweltering engine room.
As the doctor removed the blood-soaked bandage, Mark felt himself swoon and gripped the edge of the table.
During the graduation ceremony under the blazing sun, one of the teachers nearly swooned on stage.
文法句型
swoon + from/with + cause noun phrase
用法筆記
This is the older, literal meaning of 'swoon'. In modern English, 'faint' is much more common for physical loss of consciousness. Use 'swoon' in this sense for a literary, historical, or deliberately old-fashioned tone. The cause is typically physical (heat, blood loss, hunger) rather than emotional.
常見錯誤
swoon — noun
- swoonsingular
- swoonsplural
1. a brief period of unconsciousness, typically caused by a temporary drop in blood
a brief period of unconsciousness, typically caused by a temporary drop in blood flow to the brain, resulting from heat, shock, injury, or emotional distress
The nurse said the patient had a swoon from dehydration after working in the garden all afternoon.
had a swoon from + cause — collocation for medical fainting
After hearing the devastating news, the old man went into a swoon that lasted several minutes.
went into a swoon — alternative collocation
The young cadet suffered a swoon during the morning parade under the blazing sun.
A woman in the crowd had a swoon and was carried to a shaded spot by two bystanders.
文法句型
fall/go into a swoon
suffer a swoon
用法筆記
In medical contexts, 'faint' or 'syncope' are preferred. 'Swoon' as a noun for a fainting episode is mostly found in historical fiction or literary descriptions.
常見錯誤
2. a state of intense delight, rapture, or emotional excitement that makes someone
a state of intense delight, rapture, or emotional excitement that makes someone feel as if they are being carried away by the feeling
The audience was in a swoon after the pianist's final, breathtaking chord.
in a swoon — set phrase for ecstatic state
Fans of the band have been in a swoon ever since the reunion tour was announced.
Leo described his wedding day as a swoon of happiness that he still remembers clearly.
Yara described the ballet as one long swoon of joy from the first note to the final bow.
- despair
extreme unhappiness or loss of hope
文法句型
in a swoon
a swoon of + emotion noun
用法筆記
This noun sense is almost exclusively literary or hyperbolic. In everyday conversation, expressions like 'in ecstasy' or 'in heaven' are more common. The phrase 'in a swoon' carries a slightly old-fashioned, romantic tone.