countenance

noun coun·te·nance \ ˈkau̇n-tᵊn-ən(t)s , ˈkau̇nt-nən(t)s \

Updated on: 30 Nov 2017

Definition of countenance

1 a : look, expression

… a countenance which expressed both good humor and intelligence …
—Sir Walter Scott

b : mental composure

… startled, and also somewhat out of countenance.
—Arnold Bennett

c : calm expression

He managed to keep his countenance through the ordeal.

2 : face, visage; especially : the face as an indication of mood, emotion, or character

The photograph showed his somber countenance.

3 : bearing or expression that offers approval or sanction : moral support

… her countenance of their unsafe amusements …
—Jane Austen

4 archaic

a : aspect, semblance

b : pretense

5 obsolete : bearing, demeanor

See countenance defined for English-language learners

See countenance defined for kids

Examples of countenance in a Sentence

… his white countenance was rendered eerie by the redness of the sagging lids below his eyes … —John Updike, The Afterlife, 1994
You could see it in his frame and deportment … a beaming countenance, expansive salutations, a warm handshake … —Simon Schama, Granta, Autumn 1990
All, all are kind to me but their tones fall strangely on my ear & their countenances meet mine not like home faces … —Emily Dickinson 17 Feb. 1848, in Selected Letters, (1914) 1986
Before receiving him, Henry had so possessed himself that no one could guess from his countenance with what sentiments he remembered the young king. —Amy Kelly, Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings, 1950
The photograph showed his somber countenance.
a pleasant countenance that puts visitors at ease

Recent Examples of countenance from the Web

A year ago, the prevailing countenance of Kansas basketball was stoic senior Frank Mason, who with a certain grit and grim fury became the national player of the year.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity, "Face of KU hoops shifts from grim Mason to merry Graham | The Kansas City Star," 24 Oct. 2017
Included are good people skills, a calm countenance even in an emergency and, very importantly, the ability to multitask.

— linda gandee/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Avon Citizen Police Academy class discusses traffic stops, driving while intoxicated and recruitment of police officers," 2 Oct. 2017
For the most part, Trump adopted a sober countenance throughout his trip.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "2018 Will Be The Year That Trump Truly Becomes President," 1 Sep. 2017
The Blazers decided his handsome, mustachioed countenance would be their public face.

— frank fitzpatrick, Philly.com, "A debut that went up in Blazers | Frank's Place," 6 Oct. 2017
To what extent did the president countenance, or even conceal, the evasion of law enforcement?

— william saletan, Slate Magazine, "Release Michael Flynn’s FBI Interview," 21 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'countenance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of countenance

Middle English contenance, from Anglo-French cuntenance, contenance, from Medieval Latin continentia, from Latin, restraint, from continent-, continens, present participle of continēre to hold together — more at contain

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

countenance Synonyms

Synonyms

cast, look, expression, face, visage

Antonyms

agitation, discomposure, perturbation

Related Words

frown, grimace, lower (also lour), mouth, pout, scowl; grin, smile; air, appearance, aspect, bearing, demeanor, manner, mien, presence

Near Antonyms

alarm (also alarum), anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, disquiet, solicitude, uneasiness, worry; excitability, excitableness, nervousness; disturbance

countenance

verb

Definition of countenance

countenanced; countenancing

transitive verb

: to extend approval or toleration to : sanction

refused to countenance any changes in the policy

—

countenancer

noun

See countenance defined for English-language learners

Examples of countenance in a Sentence

But there are only two logical choices … . If you can't countenance the first, you have to accept the second. —Anna Quindlen, Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2007
… the constellation of family emotions—love, obedience, rivalry, repression—can turn a family into a moral system of its own in which even the greatest horrors can be countenanced in the name of loyalty and love … —Scott Turow, Times Literary Supplement, 15 Mar. 1991
They disapproved of the marriage, and could not be expected to countenance it. —Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, 1891
I don't countenance such behavior in children of any age.
countenanced the delays and inconveniences of traveling by air with good grace

Recent Examples of countenance from the Web

Even after Obama, mainstream media still cannot countenance black American experience any way except through sociological catastrophe.

— armond white, National Review, "Girls Trip and Bronx Gothic: Two Visions of Post-Obama Black Empowerment," 14 July 2017
Within a month of his audience with the shah, Sullivan fired off another report countenancing just that.

— amir-hussein radjy, New Republic, "Rewriting the Iranian Revolution," 6 July 2017
The third strand of his working life is something previous generations of stiff-upper-lip royals would never have countenanced for a moment: Harry is determined to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

— angela levin, Newsweek, "Exclusive: Prince Harry on Chaos After Diana's Death and Why the World Needs 'the Magic' of the Royal Family," 21 June 2017
When news comes that Fort Sumter has been fired upon, Austin declares his intention to enlist, only to be thwarted by his father, who will not countenance the loss of a son.

— anthony lane, The New Yorker, "“A Quiet Passion” and “The Fate of the Furious”," 13 Apr. 2017
The real threat to peace and security, of course, was the system of slavery itself and a Christianity that countenanced it.

— andrew lawler, Smithsonian, "Muslims Were Banned From the Americas as Early as the 16th Century," 7 Feb. 2017
The football field is now a minefield of social-justice causes, where National Football League officials countenance Black Power salutes but ban pro-police decals on helmets after cop ambushes.

— michelle malkin, National Review, "Show Biz Meltdown: Bombs Away!," 20 Sep. 2017
In an era when overall economic growth was slowing, companies simply couldn’t countenance raising wages consistently.

— daniel gross, Slate Magazine, "Why Can’t Americans Get a Raise?," 13 July 2017
The real threat to peace and security, of course, was the system of slavery itself and a Christianity that countenanced it.

— andrew lawler, Smithsonian, "Muslims Were Banned From the Americas as Early as the 16th Century," 7 Feb. 2017