flick

¹ American  

[flik] / flɪk /

noun

1. a sudden light blow or tap, as with a whip or the finger.

   She gave the horse a flick with her riding crop.

2. the sound made by such a blow or tap.

3. a light and rapid movement.

   a flick of the wrist.

4. something thrown off with or as if with a jerk.

   a flick of mud.

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verb (used with object)

flicks, present (3rd person singular) flicked, past participle, past flicking present participle

1. to strike lightly with a whip, the finger, etc.

2. to remove with such a stroke.

   to flick away a crumb.

3. to move (something) with a sudden stroke or jerk.

verb (used without object)

flicks, present (3rd person singular) flicked, past participle, past flicking present participle

1. to move with a jerk or jerks.

2. to flutter; flicker.

flick ² American  

[flik] / flɪk /

noun

Slang.

1. a motion picture; movie.

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flick ¹ British  

/ flɪk /

verb

1. (tr) to touch with or as if with the finger or hand in a quick jerky movement

2. (tr) to propel or remove by a quick jerky movement, usually of the fingers or hand

   to flick a piece of paper at someone

3. to move or cause to move quickly or jerkily

4. to read or look at (a book, newspaper, etc) quickly or idly

5. to snap or click (the fingers) to produce a sharp sound

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noun

1. a tap or quick stroke with the fingers, a whip, etc

2. the sound made by such a stroke

3. a fleck, streak, or particle

4. informal to dismiss someone from consideration

flick ² British  

/ flɪk /

noun

1. a cinema film

2. the cinema

   what's on at the flicks tonight?

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Usage

What does flick mean? A flick is a light, rapid movement, as in With a flick of her wrist, the magician made the card disappear. A flick is also a sudden tap or light blow, as with a whip or a finger. To flick is to make such a motion. Flick is also a slang term for movie or film. Example: Flick that spider off the table, Tony.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• flicking
  present
• flicked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• flick
  simple
• flicks
  simple
• have flicked
  perfect
• has flicked
  perfect
• am flicking
  progressive
• are flicking
  progressive
• is flicking
  progressive
• have been flicking
  perfect progressive
• has been flicking
  perfect progressive

Past

• flicked
  simple
• had flicked
  perfect
• was flicking
  progressive
• were flicking
  progressive
• had been flicking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will flick
  simple
• will have flicked
  perfect
• will be flicking
  progressive
• will have been flicking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of flick¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English flykke; imitative

Origin of flick²

First recorded in 1925–30; shortening of flicker ¹

Explanation

A flick is a quick, short movement, usually coming from the wrist or hand. There used to be a "Flick a Bic" cigarette ad: cigarettes are awful, but starting a lighter is a classic flick. The most common flick is probably turning a switch on or off — people flick switches, like light switches. Flicking is also used when describing golfers and basketball players. A fast, sharp golf shot could be called a flick. A quick basketball shot — like tipping the ball in with one second left in the game — is also a flick. A flick can also be described as a quick jerk — not a jerk as in a bad person, but a tiny movement. If you're using your whole body or even your whole arm, you're not flicking.

Example Sentences

Yet, if Thomas Tuchel can find a space for both players in his national team squad, why can the same not be true of Hansi Flick?

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

Flick did not share further details about the situation and asked the media to respect the defender's privacy.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

Flick has also been praised for showing care for his players.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

Flick didn’t indulge in telling any of the “cowboys-in-airplanes stories” he’d heard during his nearly 40 years at the center.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Jenny Flick and I officially met in detention in January of our junior year.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

Related Words

• flip
• snap
• tap