SCOWL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does scowl mean? 

• SCOWL (noun)
  The noun SCOWL has 1 sense:

1. a facial expression of dislike or displeasure

  Familiarity information: SCOWL used as a noun is very rare.

• SCOWL (verb)
  The verb SCOWL has 1 sense:

1. frown with displeasure

  Familiarity information: SCOWL used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCOWL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A facial expression of dislike or displeasure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

frown; scowl

Hypernyms ("scowl" is a kind of...):

facial expression; facial gesture (a gesture executed with the facial muscles)

Derivation:

scowl (frown with displeasure)

• SCOWL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they scowl    ... he / she / it scowls   
Past simple: scowled   
Past participle: scowled   
-ing form: scowling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Frown with displeasure

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "scowl" is one way to...):

frown; glower; lour; lower (look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

scowl (a facial expression of dislike or displeasure)

 Context examples 

I’d have a short life if he had his way—the black-eyed, scowling, yellow devil.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He scowled at Zilla, whose withered lips were again writhing into speech, and compelled her to silence.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He scowled at first; then, as if recollecting something, he said—Right, right!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The man scowled from one to the other, and his hand stole away from his sword.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He remained for a little, biting the handkerchief, and then said to me with a scowl: What more have you got to bring forward?

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He got downstairs next morning, to be sure, and had his meals as usual, though he ate little and had more, I am afraid, than his usual supply of rum, for he helped himself out of the bar, scowling and blowing through his nose, and no one dared to cross him.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

As there were only the big wooden boxes, there were no odd corners where a man could hide. Men much relieved when search over, and went back to work cheerfully. First mate scowled, but said nothing.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Meg lifted her eyebrows, but Jo scowled at her defiantly and said at once, "Of course you may. We should have asked you before, only we thought you wouldn't care for such a girl's game as this."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“What if I am?” he asked with a most villainous scowl.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Blow the bugles!” cried Sir Hugh, with a scowling brow.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)