flex
verb (used with object)
to bend, as a part of the body.
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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.
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to demonstrate (one’s ability, expertise, etc.).
She’s flexed her marketing skills for various clients in the publishing industry.
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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.
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Slang. to boast or brag; show off.
In his rap lyrics he flexes about his fancy lifestyle.
noun
-
flexes
plural
-
the act of flexing.
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Slang. a boast or brag.
It's not a flex, but we have the best burgers here.
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British.
-
any flexible, insulated electric cord; an electric cord or extension cord.
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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
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(intr) to work according to flexitime
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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
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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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dance - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Lemonade War
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
A chance to flex your big vocabulary: Do you know which activity a pugilist engages in?
From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026
“A lot of the state litigation is, honestly, symbolic,” she said, noting it’s how states can flex their limited power over this uniquely federal policy area.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026
That includes the walls, which can flex to instantly turn small offices into larger conference rooms, the finish of a large conference table and planting dozens of trees on the property.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
“A detached pool house with full bathroom and sauna offers ideal flexibility for guests, wellness, or office use, while additional detached flex spaces provide versatility for a variety of needs,” the listing continued.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026
If I were to ask you to smile, you would flex your zygomatic major.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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
“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
Robyn’s voice has always been well-suited to conveying desperation, and she flexes that muscle on “It Don’t Mean a Thing.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026
The duo mirroring Hulk Hogan-style underarm bicep flexes after winning their semi-final was one of the defining images.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2025
That’s the only way to explain how its bodybuilding exhibitions look like Shakespeare performances, with balconies of people applauding nonstop as a soloist flexes onstage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025
A slight tension flexes through her jaw, and a sharpness appears in her eyes that I’ve not seen before.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
The gains come despite Alibaba previewing its new artificial-intelligence model—the second time in a week that China has flexed its advances in AI.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 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
James flexed in front of his teammates on the bench, who stood to give their approval.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2026
He flexed his fingers and arched his back from side to side.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
“They’re just flexing the trip rather than not going on the trip.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
There’s the Total Wireless Weigh-In, which allows fans to take shirtless pictures of themselves flexing the way fighters do at weigh-in the day before they fight.
From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026
The most tapped-in collectors are trading, flexing and discussing watches on WhatsApp.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
Meanwhile, Orpin’s muscular flexing in Soames’ fitted T-shirts rivals anything Jeremy Allen White serves in “The Bear.”
From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2026
He was flexing his muscles and smoothing his mustache excitedly.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
