flagging

¹ American  

[flag-ing] / ˈflæg ɪŋ /

adjective

1. becoming smaller or weaker; dwindling.

2. weak, fatigued, or drooping.

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flagging ² American  

[flag-ing] / ˈflæg ɪŋ /

noun

1. flagstones collectively.

2. a pavement or walk of flagstones.

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flagging British  

/ ˈflæɡɪŋ /

noun

1. flagstones or a flagged area

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• flaggingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of flagging¹

First recorded in 1535–45; flag ³ + -ing ²

Origin of flagging²

First recorded in 1615–25; flag ⁴ + -ing ¹

Explanation

If something is flagging, it's worn out or weak. A flagging political campaign is running out of steam, losing the energy it needs to be successful. If your career is flagging, it's languishing or fading — you might need to go back to school and start a new one. Flagging public support for a new school might spell the end of the project. A different kind of flagging is the sort you walk on. If your patio is made of flagging, it's paved in stones — flagstones, to be specific. The "weakened" meaning of flagging comes from an early meaning of flag, "to flap about loosely."

Example Sentences

There was also flagging confidence among investors in Jakarta's ability to repay its debts.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

New-car sales are flagging as sky-high prices continue to weigh on consumers whose budgets are already stretched thin.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

Big banks have already been acquiescing to Musk’s unusual demands, including paying up front for Grok subscriptions, thus juicing SpaceX’s flagging A.I. revenue.

From Slate • May 15, 2026

The audio showed that a number of other possible fouls had been considered, including Leandro Trossard on Pablo, with the VAR team flagging them to the referee.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Right now they’re both wavers, flagging me out to the sidewalk.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

Related Words

• dwindling
• fading
• listless
• sagging
• slumping
• waning
• weakening