Dictionary.com
definitions

flagging

1
[flag-ing]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR flagging ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

becoming smaller or weaker; dwindling.
weak, fatigued, or drooping.

Origin of flagging

1
First recorded in 1535–45; flag3 + -ing2
Related formsflag·ging·ly, adverb

flagging

2
[flag-ing]

noun

flagstones collectively.
a pavement or walk of flagstones.

Origin of flagging

2
First recorded in 1615–25; flag4 + -ing1

flag

1
[flag]

noun

a piece of cloth, varying in size, shape, color, and design, usually attached at one edge to a staff or cord, and used as the symbol of a nation, state, or organization, as a means of signaling, etc.; ensign; standard; banner; pennant.
Ornithology. the tuft of long feathers on the legs of falcons and most hawks; the lengthened feathers on the crus or tibia.
Hunting. the tail of a deer or of a setter dog.
Journalism.
  1. the nameplate of a newspaper.
  2. masthead(def 1).
  3. the name of a newspaper as printed on the editorial page.
a tab or tag attached to a page, file card, etc., to mark it for attention.
Music. hook1(def 12a).
Movies, Television. a small gobo.
Usually flags. the ends of the bristles of a brush, especially a paintbrush, when split.
Computers. a symbol, value, or other means of identifying data of interest, or of informing later parts of a program what conditions earlier parts have encountered.

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

to place a flag or flags over or on; decorate with flags.
to signal or warn (a person, automobile, etc.) with or as if with a flag (sometimes followed by down): to flag a taxi; to flag down a passing car.
to communicate (information) by or as if by a flag.
to decoy, as game, by waving a flag or the like to excite attention or curiosity.
to mark (a page in a book, file card, etc.) for attention, as by attaching protruding tabs.
(of a brush) to split the ends of the bristles.

Origin of flag

1
1475–85; perhaps blend of flap (noun) and fag1 (noun) in obsolete sense “flap”
Related formsflag·ger, nounflag·less, adjective

flag

3
[flag]

verb (used without object), flagged, flag·ging.

to fall off in vigor, energy, activity, interest, etc.: Public enthusiasm flagged when the team kept losing.
to hang loosely or limply; droop.

Origin of flag

3
1535–45; perhaps blend of of flap (v.) and fag1 (v.) in obsolete sense “to droop”. See flag1

Synonyms for flag

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR flag ON THESAURUS.COM
1. dwindle, wilt, slump, sag, wane.

flag

4
[flag]

noun

flagstone(def 1).
flags, flagstone(def 2).

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

to pave with flagstones.

Origin of flag

4
1400–50; late Middle English flagge piece of sod; akin to Old Norse flaga slab
Related formsflag·ger, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for flagging

waning, listless, fading, sagging, dwindling, tired, limp, tiring, drooping, languishing, fatigued, slacking, droopy, languorous, leaden, lethargic, spiritless, weak

Examples from the Web for flagging

Contemporary Examples of flagging

Historical Examples of flagging

  • His end, or her end, is our own in view, and the flagging spirit revives.

    A Dish Of Orts

    George MacDonald

  • But what she was noticing was the flagging effort of his vivacity.

  • And he went about it with a zest that knew no flagging, with a relish that nothing could impair.

    St. Martin's Summer

    Rafael Sabatini

  • Their spirits rose with his and their flagging hopes revived.

    Scaramouche

    Rafael Sabatini

  • Flagging energies, lashed by an indomitable will, must persevere.

British Dictionary definitions for flagging

flagging

noun

flagstones or a flagged area

flag

1

noun

a piece of cloth, esp bunting, often attached to a pole or staff, decorated with a design and used as an emblem, symbol, or standard or as a means of signalling
a small paper flag, emblem, or sticker sold on flag days
computing an indicator, that may be set or unset, used to indicate a condition or to stimulate a particular reaction in the execution of a computer program
informal short for flag officer, flagship
journalism another name for masthead (def. 2)
the fringe of long hair, tapering towards the tip, on the underside of the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as setters
the conspicuously marked tail of a deer
a less common name for bookmark
Australian and NZ the part of a taximeter that is raised when a taxi is for hire
the pennant-shaped pattern that is formed when a price fluctuation is plotted on a chart, interrupting the steady rise or fall that precedes and then follows it
the flag (in Victoria, Australia) the Australian Rules premiership
fly the flag to represent or show support for one's country, an organization, etc
show the flag
  1. to assert a claim, as to a territory or stretch of water, by military presence
  2. informalto be present; make an appearance
strike the flag or lower the flag
  1. to relinquish command, esp of a ship
  2. to submit or surrender

verb flags, flagging or flagged (tr)

to decorate or mark with a flag or flags
(often foll by down) to warn or signal (a vehicle) to stop
to send or communicate (messages, information, etc) by flag
to decoy (game or wild animals) by waving a flag or similar object so as to attract their attention
to mark (a page in a book, card, etc) for attention by attaching a small tab or flag
mainly Australian to draw attention to (something)
(foll by away or by) NZ to consider unimportant; brush aside
See also flag out, flags, flag up
Derived Formsflagger, nounflagless, adjective

Word Origin for flag

C16: of uncertain origin

flag

2

verb flags, flagging or flagged (intr)

to hang down; become limp; droop
to decline in strength or vigour; become weak or tired

Word Origin for flag

C16: of unknown origin

flag

3

noun

any of various plants that have long swordlike leaves, esp the iris Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag)
the leaf of any such plant
See also sweet flag

Word Origin for flag

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Dutch flag, Danish flæg yellow iris

flag

4

noun

short for flagstone

verb flags, flagging or flagged

(tr) to furnish (a floor) with flagstones
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for flagging

flag

n.2

"flat, split stone," c.1600, earlier "piece cut from turf or sod" (mid-15c.), from Old Norse flaga "stone slab," perhaps related to Old Norse flak (see flake (n.)).

flag

n.3

aquatic plant, late 14c., "reed, rush," perhaps from a Scandinavian source (cf. Danish flæg "yellow iris") or Dutch flag; perhaps ultimately connected to flag (v.) on notion of "fluttering in the breeze."

flag

n.1

"cloth ensign," late 15c., now in all modern Germanic languages, but apparently first recorded in English, origin unknown, but likely connected with flag (v.) or else, like it, perhaps imitative. A less likely guess is that it is from the flag in flagstone on notion of being square and flat. U.S. Flag Day (1894) is in reference to the adopting of the Stars and Stripes by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

flag

v.

1540s, "flap about loosely," perhaps a variant of Middle English flakken, flacken "to flap, flutter" (late 14c.), probably from Old Norse flakka "to flicker, flutter," perhaps imitative of something flapping lazily in the wind.

Sense of "go limp, droop" is first recorded 1610s. Meaning "to designate as someone who will not be served more liquor" is from 1980s, probably from use of flags to signal trains, etc., to halt, which led to the verb in this sense (1856, American English). Related: Flagged; flagging.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper