flicker

[ flik-er ]

/ ˈflɪk ər /

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See synonyms for: flicker / flickering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to burn unsteadily; shine with a wavering light; blink on and off:The candle flickered in the draft and went out.

to move to and fro; vibrate; quiver: The long grasses flickered in the wind.

to flutter: Her eyelids flickered, the only sign she'd been startled.

to appear or occur briefly: A smile flickered across his face.

verb (used with object)

to cause to flicker: She flickered the lights quickly to attract their attention.

noun

an unsteady flame or light: A dim flicker of lamplight was all that illuminated the room.

a flickering movement: The flicker of the snake's tongue was hypnotizing.

a brief occurrence or appearance: The thought of reinforcements gave them a flicker of hope.

Often flick·ers .Slang. flick².

Ophthalmology. the visual sensation of flickering that occurs when the interval between intermittent flashes of light is too long to permit fusion.

OTHER WORDS FOR flicker

1 flare, glimmer, gleam; flash, shimmer, twinkle.

See synonyms for flicker on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of flicker

First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb flikeren, flekeren, Old English flicerian, flicorian “to flutter”; cognate with Dutch flikkeren

OTHER WORDS FROM flicker

flick·er·ing·ly, adverbflick·er·y, adjectiveun·flick·er·ing, adjectiveun·flick·er·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby flicker

flibbertigibbet, flic, flicflac, flichter, flick, flicker, flickertail, Flickertail State, flick-knife, flick-pass, flied

Other definitions for flicker (2 of 2)

flicker²

[ flik-er ]

/ ˈflɪk ər /

noun

any of several American woodpeckers of the genus Colaptes, having the underside of the wings and tail brightly marked with yellow or red and noted for taking insects from the ground as well as trees.

Origin of flicker

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10; said to be imitative of the bird's note

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use flicker in a sentence

The electronic shutter allows for high-speed continuous shooting with flicker reduction to counteract the odd bands of shadow that show up in images when shooting under certain types of lighting.
Sony’s pro-grade Alpha 1 is the first in a whole new category of cameras|Stan Horaczek|January 26, 2021|Popular-Science
In prioritizing passive engagement over active listening, Spotify is training us to prefer a lot of pretty good to a little bit of great — but Wallen has already shown his greatness in bright flickers.
Morgan Wallen’s big moment feels about 19 songs too long|Chris Richards|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
The return of Alex Smith, a three-game winning streak, a realistic shot to win a bad NFC East and the victory over Pittsburgh have given the team its first flickers of hope in years.
Playing the 49ers reminds of past failures, but Washington finally seems to have moved on|Les Carpenter|December 10, 2020|Washington Post
Bridgewater threw a second-quarter touchdown pass to Samuel on a flea flicker.
Teddy Bridgewater shakes off 'cheap shot,’ but Falcons keep it together to hold off Panthers|Mark Maske|October 30, 2020|Washington Post

Consider the rural town of Anson, Texas, where locals long believed that if you drove out to the crossroads nearest the local cemetery and flashed your headlights, a mysterious flicker would bounce back at you.
Why do we see ghosts?|Jake Bittle|October 6, 2020|Popular-Science
A pivotal moment comes when Amir admits he felt more than a flicker of pride when fanatics attacked the Twin Towers.
Religion, Race, and a Broadway Hit: The Making of ‘Disgraced’|Tim Teeman|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hurricane lamps on the tables flicker in the calm island breeze.
A Magical Meal at Louie’s Backyard in the Conch Republic|Jane & Michael Stern|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sunday saw a feast of NBA action with the Chicago Bulls toppling the Heat and a flicker of Linsanity down in Houston.
State Rep Pat Garofalo Says NBA Players Are Criminals|Robert Silverman|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
STAMPER nods—we see the briefest flicker of fear in his eyes, but it is immediately replaced with resolve.
Frank Underwood Will Not Tolerate Insubordination in This Olive Garden|Kelly Williams Brown|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Such honesty is what elicits that satisfying flicker in a reader, Of course.
Desperately Seeking Charm: Steven Amsterdam on an Elusive Quality|Steven Amsterdam|April 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In the shade the effect is less marked, but the constant flicker makes the same sort of variation, though not to the same extent.
The Painter in Oil|Daniel Burleigh Parkhurst
The hunter and his little son drew closer and watched the last flame flicker and die out.
Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children|Mabel Powers
These poor wretches fought for the last flicker of the lamp, which the bears wanted to extinguish altogether.
Black Diamonds|Mr Jkai
There was no light in this rocky intestine of the earth except the red flicker of the camp-fire.
Overland|John William De Forest
Then suddenly around the corners of his under lip a little balky smile began to flicker.
Molly Make-Believe|Eleanor Hallowell Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for flicker (1 of 2)

flicker¹

/ (ˈflɪkə) /

verb

(intr) to shine with an unsteady or intermittent lighta candle flickers

(intr) to move quickly to and fro; quiver, flutter, or vibrate

(tr) to cause to flicker

noun

an unsteady or brief light or flame

a swift quivering or fluttering movement

a visual sensation, often seen in a television image, produced by periodic fluctuations in the brightness of light at a frequency below that covered by the persistence of vision

the flicker (plural) a US word for flick 2 (def. 2)

Derived forms of flicker

flickeringly, adverbflickery, adjective

Word Origin for flicker

Old English flicorian; related to Dutch flikkeren, Old Norse flökra to flutter

British Dictionary definitions for flicker (2 of 2)

flicker²

/ (ˈflɪkə) /

noun

any North American woodpecker of the genus Colaptes, esp C. auratus (yellow-shafted flicker), which has a yellow undersurface to the wings and tail

Word Origin for flicker

C19: perhaps imitative of the bird's call

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

flicker

OTHER WORDS FOR flicker

Origin of flicker

OTHER WORDS FROM flicker

Words nearby flicker

Other definitions for flicker (2 of 2)

Origin of flicker

Words related to flicker

How to use flicker in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flicker (1 of 2)

Derived forms of flicker

Word Origin for flicker

British Dictionary definitions for flicker (2 of 2)

Word Origin for flicker