flirt

American  

[flurt] / flɜrt /

verb (used without object)

1. to court triflingly or act amorously without serious intentions; play at love; coquet.

   Synonyms:

   dally , tease

2. to trifle or toy, as with an idea.

   She flirted with the notion of buying a sports car.

   Synonyms:

   dally

3. to move with a jerk or jerks; dart about.

   butterflies flirting from flower to flower.

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verb (used with object)

1. to give a sudden or brisk motion to; wave smartly, as a fan.

2. to throw or propel with a toss or jerk; fling suddenly.

noun

1. Also flirter. a person who is given to flirting.

   Synonyms:

   tease , coquette , minx

2. a quick throw or toss; sudden jerk or darting motion.

flirt British  

/ flɜːt /

verb

1. (intr) to behave or act amorously without emotional commitment; toy or play with another's affections; dally

2. to deal playfully or carelessly (with something dangerous or serious); trifle

   the motorcyclist flirted with death

3. to think casually (about); toy (with)

   to flirt with the idea of leaving

4. (intr) to move jerkily; dart; flit

5. (tr) to subject to a sudden swift motion; flick or toss

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noun

1. a person who acts flirtatiously

Other Word Forms

• flirter noun
• flirtingly adverb
• flirty adjective

Etymology

Origin of flirt

First recorded in 1540–50; of expressive origin; compare similar initial cluster in flap, flick ¹, flip ¹ and final elements of squirt, spurt

Example Sentences

Could this kind behavior be misinterpreted as flirting?

From MarketWatch

I’ve had zero patience for people who try to water down their response to #MeToo by saying, “Don’t people get to flirt anymore? Don’t they get to smile at each other? Can’t you compliment someone?”

From Salon

He was also flirting with the idea of developing a reality show about his life, former associates told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

“The curve is flirting with contango, and that alone will feed on itself, once it starts to get going and it becomes pretty abject.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Newsom’s trip to Texas comes as the former San Francisco mayor has been openly flirting with a 2028 run for president.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• tease