flex

¹ American  

[fleks] / flɛks /

verb (used with object)

1. to bend, as a part of the body.

   He flexed his arms to show off his muscles.

2. to tighten (a muscle) by contraction.

3. to demonstrate (one’s ability, expertise, etc.).

   She’s flexed her marketing skills for various clients in the publishing industry.

4. Slang. to boast or brag about; flaunt.

   He’s just not into flexing his success.

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verb (used without object)

1. to bend.

2. Slang. to boast or brag; show off.

   In his rap lyrics he flexes about his fancy lifestyle.

noun

1. the act of flexing.

2. Slang. a boast or brag.

   It's not a flex, but we have the best burgers here.

3. British.

   1. any flexible, insulated electric cord; an electric cord or extension cord.

   2. Slang. an elastic band, as a garter.

4. Mathematics. an inflection point.

verb phrase

1. flex on to brag or show off to; assert one’s dominance or superiority over.

   She’s flexing on her haters by posting new photos of her beautiful family.

flex ² American  

[fleks] / flɛks /

adjective

1. Informal. flexible.

   a flex program of workers' benefits.

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flex- ³ American  

Also flexi-.

1. a combining form representing flexible in compound words.

   flextime.

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flex British  

/ flɛks /

noun

1. US and Canadian name: cord.  a flexible insulated electric cable, used esp to connect appliances to mains

2. informal flexibility or pliability

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verb

1. to bend or be bent

   he flexed his arm

   his arm flexed

2. to contract (a muscle) or (of a muscle) to contract

3. (intr) to work according to flexitime

4. to test or display (one's authority or strength)

Usage

What else does flex mean? Flex is a slang term meaning "to show off," whether it be your physique, your belongings, or some other thing you consider superior to those of others. The act of flexing is often criticized as a power move, considered arrogant and insincere.

Etymology

Origin of flex¹

First recorded in 1515–25; (adjective) from Latin flexus, past participle of flectere “to bend, turn”; (noun) from Latin flexus act of bending, equivalent to flect(ere) + -tus suffix of verbal action

Origin of flex²

Shortening of flexible

Example Sentences

You can tell the Pentagon loves it because it just airlifted a microreactor to Utah on a C-17 — the military equivalent of posting a flex on Instagram.

From MarketWatch

The beauty of a sheet pan dinner is its elasticity — it flexes up and down depending on what’s in your pantry and how much energy you have left at 6:42 p.m.

From Salon

Once the fans at Crypto.com Arena saw his flexing and chest beating, they couldn’t get enough.

From Los Angeles Times

For all his size, Hord moved with the grace of a lynx, flexing his knees and repositioning his fingers on knife and spear.

From Literature

James raised and flexed a finger, threatening to tickle me.

From Literature

Related Words

• lean
• tighten
• tilt