flirt
Americanverb (used without object)
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flirts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flirted,
past participle, past
-
flirting
present participle
verb (used with object)
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flirts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flirted,
past participle, past
-
flirting
present participle
-
to give a sudden or brisk motion to; wave smartly, as a fan.
-
to throw or propel with a toss or jerk; fling suddenly.
verb
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(intr) to behave or act amorously without emotional commitment; toy or play with another's affections; dally
-
to deal playfully or carelessly (with something dangerous or serious); trifle
the motorcyclist flirted with death
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to think casually (about); toy (with)
to flirt with the idea of leaving
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(intr) to move jerkily; dart; flit
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(tr) to subject to a sudden swift motion; flick or toss
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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flirtsimple
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flirtssimple
-
have flirtedperfect
-
has flirtedperfect
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am flirtingprogressive
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are flirtingprogressive
-
is flirtingprogressive
-
have been flirtingperfect progressive
-
has been flirtingperfect progressive
Past
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flirtedsimple
-
had flirtedperfect
-
was flirtingprogressive
-
were flirtingprogressive
-
had been flirtingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of flirt
First recorded in 1540–50; of expressive origin; compare similar initial cluster in flap, flick 1, flip 1 and final elements of squirt, spurt
Explanation
If you're interested in someone romantically, you might flirt with them, which means to chat them up or tease them in a playful way. Flirting is an indirect and fun way to let your crush know you're interested, like a seductive line or a few coy words. Or if there's a girl you've had your eye on, you might make a point of walking by her desk and saying hello every morning. But even if you don't have a love interest, you can still flirt. Driving carelessly is flirting with disaster: it's almost like you're toying with the idea of getting into an accident.
Vocabulary lists containing flirt
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s bond-buyback plan looks like all hat and no cattle as yields flirt with multiyear highs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Once everyone is locked in, COs get to lounge around inside the bubble: eat, drink coffee, flirt with each other, complain, maybe nap until they have to perform the 10:30 p.m. count.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
"We expect the Fed to hold through year end even as futures markets flirt with pricing in a hike," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
“I learned to flirt there, I learned to smoke there, I learned to trash-talk there,” she says.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
“Because,” I answer softly, “she can breed. I saw her flirt with a tercel last spring. She will have young. There will be wild peregrines on the cliffs again.”
From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
“Widow’s Bay” occasionally flirts with satire, but it settles down with self-aware sincerity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
That is despite warnings that it has morphed from a Eurosceptic party, founded in 2013, into one that flirts with, or attracts, extremist support.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
America flirts with it and folds, every single cycle.
From Slate ● Jun. 6, 2026
Ms. Truschke’s book is quirky and flirts with wokeness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025
He hates it when she flirts with others.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
The philanthropy pledged money to popular EA causes such as pandemic prevention and global development, and flirted with doomsday preparations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
This included the fear that she might lose him, specifically to a red-headed bank clerk who had flirted with him early on in their marriage.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
It is in stark contrast to last term, when the Paisley side flirted with relegation, coming through a play-off to retain their top-flight status.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
“Throughout my career, I’ve always flirted with the genre,” Peluso said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
His daughter, Jean, sold flower bouquets and loaves of fresh-baked bread in her marketplace stall while she flirted, laughing, with the gangly, self-conscious boys who stopped by.
From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry
After flirting with the idea of running for outgoing U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
After weeks of heavy selling the yield on 10-year government bonds is now flirting with the psychological threshold of five percent, a level not seen since 2002.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Over more than 10 years and 100 dates, Dimoldenberg's awkward flirting, deadpan silences and willingness to overshare has made her channel an unmissable stop for any celeb, single or not.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
Papa Pope’s harsh words were meant to prepare his daughter for the risks inherent to flirting with power.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
Zara said I didn't understand about flirting, and Omi did tell Zara she wasn't being fair.
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
