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
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Contrary to the name, those bears can sometimes be brown.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024
Half-and-half and salted butter: Egg yolk: Helps the topping brown nicely in the oven.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024
Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024
Cook until lightly browned and heated through, about 4 minutes per side, letting veggies char slightly while hot dogs cook.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brown 
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Adjective
The mega coral is mostly brown, but has some splashes of bright reds, yellows, and blues.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Contrary to the name, those bears can sometimes be brown.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
Sunny, a long-haired brown and white bunny, was found just outside the pen, while Ruby, a long-haired gray bunny, was inside.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024
Half-and-half and salted butter: Egg yolk: Helps the topping brown nicely in the oven.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
Whisk in flour, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
—Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024
Cook until lightly browned and heated through, about 4 minutes per side, letting veggies char slightly while hot dogs cook.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brown
Articles Related to brown
Dictionary Entries Near brown
Cite this Entry
“Brown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown. Accessed 22 Nov. 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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