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: The candle flickered in the wind and went out.

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

to flutter.

verb (used with object)

to cause to flicker.

noun

an unsteady flame or light.

a flickering movement.

a brief occurrence or appearance: a flicker of hope.

Often flickers .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, flash, gleam, shimmer.

See synonyms for flicker on Thesaurus.com

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"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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Origin of flicker

before 1000; Middle English flikeren (v.) Old English 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

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. 2022

How to use flicker in a sentence

The candle flicker wakes me up sometimes because I think the lights are back on.
The grid leaves us powerless|Dan Zak|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
His 29-yard touchdown catch came on a pass thrown by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater off a flea flicker, as the Panthers cashed in on an interception thrown by Ryan.
Teddy Bridgewater shakes off 'cheap shot,’ but Falcons keep it together to hold off Panthers|Mark Maske|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
He gazed at the flowers and the flickering candles, clearly moved.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One well-known work, “Exploded Views” (2011), features 2,880 seemingly random, flickering LED lights.
Art Goes High-Tech at These Four Innovative Exhibits|Justin Jones|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The best ones have a view of the murals or are near the pretty glass cabinet filled with flickering candles.
Where to Fall in Love—or Just Get Drunk—on Valentine’s Day|Condé Nast Traveler|February 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dusty paths lined with flickering orange lanterns led us to our final camp, a slice of dramatic Arabian luxury.
On Foot in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco|Joanna Eede|January 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For these boys, the man leans in and shines a flickering red light in their faces.
‘Web Junkie’ Is a Harrowing Documentary on China’s Internet Addiction Rehab Clinics|Marlow Stern|January 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She opened the letter by the flickering firelight, which was stronger on the hearthrug than the light of the dim November day.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
With difficulty his almost imperceptible spark of life had been screened and fanned into a dim and flickering flame.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
He snuggled Lovin Child close in his arms and held him there, and stared dim-eyed at the flickering shadows on the wall.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower
I sat there, feeling very much alone, with Holaf watching me somberly, the only light a flickering amber from the fire.
Valley of the Croen|Lee Tarbell
She could see him dimly now, under the street lamp that sent a faint, flickering light through the fog.
An Episode Under the Terror|Honore de Balzac

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

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