flit

[ flit ]

/ flɪt /

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See synonyms for: flit / flitted / flitting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), flit·ted, flit·ting.

to move lightly and swiftly; fly, dart, or skim along: bees flitting from flower to flower.

to flutter, as a bird.

to pass quickly, as time: hours flitting by.

Chiefly Scot. and North England.

to depart or die.
to change one's residence.

verb (used with object), flit·ted, flit·ting.

Chiefly Scot. to remove; transfer; oust or dispossess.

noun

a light, swift movement; flutter.

Scot. and North England. a change of residence; instance of moving to a new address.

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.

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Origin of flit

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English flitten, from Old Norse flytja “to carry, convey,” Swedish flytta; see fleet²

synonym study for flit

1. See fly².

OTHER WORDS FROM flit

flit·ting·ly, adverb

Words nearby flit

flirt, flirtable, flirtation, flirtatious, flirty, flit, flitch, flitch beam, flitchplate, flite, flit gun

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

How to use flit in a sentence

This time we are back in 1941 and flit from Berlin (“the capital of a banana republic that had run out of bananas”) to Prague.
Must Read Fiction: ‘Prague Fatale,’ ‘Derby Day’ and More|Malcolm Forbes, Hillary Kelly, Mythili Rao|May 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The great moonlight flit from Marrakech to Tangier was in motion.
12 Juiciest Bits from Keith Richards' Memoir|The Daily Beast|October 27, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Text messages and jokes flit incessantly between them, and business is conducted in a relaxed, familiar manner.
Will Britain's Coalition Government Survive?|Peter Hoskin|August 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Were I of less girth I would flit through the window and fall upon my knees at your feet.
First Plays|A. A. Milne

Among the branches flit birds, and winged genii like little cupids.
The Catacombs of Rome|William Henry Withrow
She saw a dark shadow flit over Musa's face: was it as the ship's lantern swayed in the slow swell of the sea?
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
She saw a pained look flit over the countenance of the visitor, and administered the only panacea she possessed.
Alone|Marion Harland
She profited by the moments indecision to flit swiftly out of the ghostly arcade toward the avenue.
The Woman Gives|Owen Johnson

British Dictionary definitions for flit

flit

/ (flɪt) /

verb flits, flitting or flitted (intr)

to move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

to fly rapidly and lightly; flutter

to pass quickly; fleeta memory flitted into his mind

Scot and Northern English dialect to move house

British informal to depart hurriedly and stealthily in order to avoid obligations

an informal word for elope

noun

the act or an instance of flitting

slang, mainly US a male homosexual

British informal a hurried and stealthy departure in order to avoid obligations (esp in the phrase do a flit)

See moonlight flit

Derived forms of flit

flitter, noun

Word Origin for flit

C12: from Old Norse flytja to carry

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

flit

Origin of flit

synonym study for flit

OTHER WORDS FROM flit

Words nearby flit

Words related to flit

How to use flit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flit

Derived forms of flit

Word Origin for flit