1
a
: having the color of wood or chocolate
especially
: of the color brown (see brown entry 2 sense 1)
a brown cow
brown eyes and hair
as brown as the oak leaves
b
: having dark or tanned skin
Their hands and faces were brown from long days in the sun.
2
or less commonly Brown
: of or relating to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin
Black and brown Americans
plural browns
1
: any of a group of colors between red and yellow in hue, of medium to low lightness, and of moderate to low saturation
2
browns or less commonly Browns plural
: people belonging to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin
Note: The plural noun browns is used mostly in phrases referring to multiple population groups.
3
browned; browning; browns
: to become brown
: to make brown
Examples of brown in a Sentence
Adjective
workers whose backs are brown from long hours in the sun
Noun
The room was decorated in brown.
a mix of browns and reds
Verb
Brown the chicken in a pan with butter.
Her skin was browned by the sun.
The chicken is browning in the oven.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Adler, Vox, 7 July 2024
Rutherford completed her look with brown cutout Tod’s loafers.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 7 July 2024
Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2024
The hues can span from weathered grays and browns to deep, rustic tones.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2024
Eric Kim, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2024
If crepes are browning too quickly, reduce heat to medium.
—Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for brown 
Adjective
In the back corner, near a tank of tiny California skates that look like grinning raviolis, is a pile of orange, purple, pink, and brown sea stars in a long aquarium with an open top.
—Jennifer Adler, Vox, 7 July 2024
Rutherford completed her look with brown cutout Tod’s loafers.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 7 July 2024
Noun
Remember brown marmorated stink bug, a nuisance pest that was new to Maryland in the early 2000s?
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2024
The hues can span from weathered grays and browns to deep, rustic tones.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2024
Verb
Flip and sear the other side until browned, about 2 minutes.
—Eric Kim, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2024
If crepes are browning too quickly, reduce heat to medium.
—Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for brown
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near brown
Cite this Entry
“Brown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown. Accessed 14 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brown
1 of 3 adjective1
: of the color brown
2
: of dark or tanned complexion
3
: of or relating to any of various population groups considered to have medium skin color
brown
2 of 3 noun
: a color like that of coffee or chocolate that is a blend of red and yellow darkened by black
brown
3 of 3 verb
: to make or become brown
Biographical Definition
Brown
2 of 7biographical name (2)
Ford Mad*ox
ˈma-dəks 
1821–1893 English painter
1821–1893 English painter
Brown
3 of 7biographical name (3)
George 1818–1880 Canadian (Scottish-born) journalist and politician
Brown
4 of 7biographical name (4)
(James) Gordon 1951– British prime minister (2007–10)
Brown
5 of 7biographical name (5)
James (Joseph) 1933–2006 American singer and songwriter
Brown
6 of 7biographical name (6)
John 1800–1859
Old Brown of Osawatomie
ˌō-sə-ˈwä-tə-mē
American abolitionist
American abolitionist
Brown
7 of 7biographical name (7)
Michael Stuart 1941– American biochemist
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