MEANING
To make a deceptive movement that suggests one action while intending another.
Use it for
Show a false move used to misdirect someone.Gives action scenes a precise term for a deliberate misleading movement.
Words that belong together
- feint left
- feint toward the door
- a feint and retreat
On the page
The fencer feinted toward his opponent’s shoulder, then struck low.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- feint
- Past tense
- feinted
- Past participle
- feinted
- Present participle
- feinting
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- feint
- Present continuous
- am/is/are feinting
- Present perfect
- have/has feinted
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been feinting
- Past
- feinted
- Past continuous
- was/were feinting
- Past perfect
- had feinted
- Past perfect continuous
- had been feinting
- Future
- will feint
- Future continuous
- will be feinting
- Future perfect
- will have feinted
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been feinting
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
The verb comes from combat and sport but also describes any deliberate false move meant to redirect attention.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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