flex
verb (used with object)
to bend, as a part of the body.
flex
1 American
[fleks]
/ flɛks /
verb (used with object)
-
flexes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flexed,
past participle, past
-
flexing
present participle
-
to bend, as a part of the body.
He flexed his arms to show off his muscles.
-
to tighten (a muscle) by contraction.
-
to demonstrate (one’s ability, expertise, etc.).
She’s flexed her marketing skills for various clients in the publishing industry.
-
Slang. to boast or brag about; flaunt.
He’s just not into flexing his success.
verb (used without object)
-
flexes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flexed,
past participle, past
-
flexing
present participle
-
to bend.
-
Slang. to boast or brag; show off.
In his rap lyrics he flexes about his fancy lifestyle.
noun
-
flexes
plural
-
the act of flexing.
-
Slang. a boast or brag.
It's not a flex, but we have the best burgers here.
-
British.
-
any flexible, insulated electric cord; an electric cord or extension cord.
-
Slang. an elastic band, as a garter.
-
-
Mathematics. an inflection point.
verb phrase
flex
2
American
[fleks]
/ flɛks /
adjective
flex-
3
American
Also
flexi-.
flex
British
/ flɛks /
noun
-
US and Canadian name: cord. a flexible insulated electric cable, used esp to connect appliances to mains
-
informal flexibility or pliability
verb
-
to bend or be bent
he flexed his arm
his arm flexed
-
to contract (a muscle) or (of a muscle) to contract
-
(intr) to work according to flexitime
-
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.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
flexsimple
-
flexessimple
-
have flexedperfect
-
has flexedperfect
-
am flexingprogressive
-
are flexingprogressive
-
is flexingprogressive
-
have been flexingperfect progressive
-
has been flexingperfect progressive
Past
-
flexedsimple
-
had flexedperfect
-
was flexingprogressive
-
were flexingprogressive
-
had been flexingperfect progressive
Future
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
Explanation
When you flex something, you bend or contract it. To appear super tough, you might flex your archery bow while flexing your muscles. Things curve and bend when they flex, whether they're human joints or objects made of a bendable material like plastic or soft wood. Another way to flex is to tense or contract a muscle: "The weightlifter flexes her biceps." Experts suspect that flexible came first, from the Latin root flexibilis, "flexible, pliant, or yielding," and figuratively, "tractable, or easily influenced."
Vocabulary lists containing flex
Strike A Pose: Positions and Posture
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Dance - Introductory
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flec, flex
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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:
Both candidates will seek to flex their support in front of massive crowds in key cities as the nail-biting wait to decide the fate of Latin America's largest nation draws to an end.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026
The move requires the chancellor to "flex fiscal rules", according to the paper, with Treasury arguing "it would create and support 100,000 jobs in sectors including AI, defence and green energy by 2035".
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
The Roadster demo “was an engineering flex with no commercial value beyond embarrassing traditional car makers,” Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, wrote on X.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
The scans also revealed signs that the heart muscle was less able to flex normally during each heartbeat.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
Then the great muscles would flex in dreams of the hunt, and the mighty chest would give off the muffled whisper of a bark.
From "Sounder" by William H. Armstrong
Better day care, plentiful jobs at decent wages, flex- time and job sharing would all help to reduce the stresses on American households, which are overtaxed, overburdened and overwhelmed.
From Time Magazine Archive
Cary Beth Cryor has five pictures of herself giving birth; “Marty,” a young black boy wearing oversize sunglasses, flexes a muscle in Gioncarlo Valentine’s 2023 color picture of him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
“Ramy,” Hulu One of the strongest assets that Ramy Youssef’s Peabody Award-winning comedy flexes is its distinct flavors of New Jersey vibe.
From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026
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 ● Mar. 23, 2026
Typically, there have been three or four flexes to this point.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2025
Under the rubbery fake toes are layers of black carbon graphite that look nothing like a real foot, but the foot flexes with me and gives some bounce to my step.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Eighty years ago Rosie the Riveter flexed her biceps in advertisements to encourage women to take manufacturing jobs during World War II.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
When the researchers deliberately flexed the membrane, they observed stable voltage signals.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026
Last year, it flexed its economic and diplomatic muscle, responding to Trump with tit-for-tat tariffs and restricting the export of rare earth minerals essential for advanced manufacturing.
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
His wife’s trust flexed its muscle when it elected Miles Everson to the board over the weekend.
From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026
Silence-is-power stance number two: cross flexed arms across body, narrow eyes.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
Now that country fans have embraced streaming, the genre is also flexing its muscle on the Hot 100.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
Even after Benn had left, Garcia remained on stage - flexing, shouting and playing to the crowd.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Nvidia is flexing its financial muscle to address AI chip competitors but it comes with risks.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
Mamdani offered an amiable leftist alternative to “making the trains run on time,” flexing state power to make life easier and more affordable for average citizens.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
Using all of that twisting and flexing and concentration, she smashed the ball and aced the Lady Gorillas.
From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
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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.
