flirt

[flurt]

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.

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

/ 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

noun

1. a person who acts flirtatiously

Other Word Forms

• flirtingly adverb
• flirty adjective
• flirter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flirt¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of flirt¹

C16: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

I have to admit that I was flirting a little.

Read more on Literature

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

Read more on 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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The U.S.’s second-largest trading partner is flirting with recession, unemployment has risen to its worst non-pandemic levels in almost a decade, and business investment has stalled.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As a loving partner, I laugh, flirt and lean over for a kiss without a laptop in the way.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• tease