flit

American  

[flit] / flɪt /

verb (used without object)

flits, present (3rd person singular) flitted, past participle, past flitting present participle

1. to move lightly and swiftly; fly, dart, or skim along.

   bees flitting from flower to flower.

2. to flutter, as a bird.

3. to pass quickly, as time.

   hours flitting by.

4. Chiefly Scot. and North England.

   1. to depart or die.

   2. to change one's residence.

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verb (used with object)

flits, present (3rd person singular) flitted, past participle, past flitting present participle

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

noun

1. a light, swift movement; flutter.

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

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

flit British  

/ flɪt /

verb

1. to move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

2. to fly rapidly and lightly; flutter

3. to pass quickly; fleet

   a memory flitted into his mind

4. dialect to move house

5. informal to depart hurriedly and stealthily in order to avoid obligations

6. an informal word for elope

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noun

1. the act or an instance of flitting

2. slang a male homosexual

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

4. See moonlight flit

Synonym Usage

See fly ².

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• flitter
  noun
• flittingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• flitting
  present
• flitted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• flit
  simple
• flits
  simple
• have flitted
  perfect
• has flitted
  perfect
• am flitting
  progressive
• are flitting
  progressive
• is flitting
  progressive
• have been flitting
  perfect progressive
• has been flitting
  perfect progressive

Past

• flitted
  simple
• had flitted
  perfect
• was flitting
  progressive
• were flitting
  progressive
• had been flitting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will flit
  simple
• will have flitted
  perfect
• will be flitting
  progressive
• will have been flitting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of flit

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English flitten, from Old Norse flytja “to carry, convey,” Swedish flytta; see fleet ²

Explanation

A flit is a quick movement. You might flit around a crowded party, greeting everyone briefly with some light-hearted chatter and moving on quickly. Whether it's used to describe something literal or figurative, flit refers to something fleeting and quick. Flit and fleet are both related to float. Something that floats keeps moving. A smile might flit across your face or a thought may flit into your mind. That means the smile or the thought is there for a second and then gone.

Example Sentences

The contemporary costumes are unchanged as the actors flit between roles.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

Each of these resorts has an undersea restaurant, where travelers can sip sparkling wine and eat crab and caviar as Rainbowfish flit by, and Blacktip sharks skulk in the distance.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2025

Today, bicycles and bright yellow three-wheeled "keke" taxis flit along paved streets or new highway flyovers direct traffic over packed roundabouts.

From Barron's • Nov. 12, 2025

At the end of our interview, he stands up, ready to leave, and for the first time, a flicker of concern, or perhaps irritation, seems to flit across his face.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2024

They flit and zoom around their little paradise.

From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender

Related Words

• dart
• flicker
• flitter
• flutter
• hover
• skip
• whiz
• zip