Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for flit 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. Show More
verb (used with object), flit·ted, flit·ting. Chiefly Scot. to remove; transfer; oust or dispossess. Show More
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 male homosexual. Show More
Origin of flit 1150–1200; Middle English flitten <
Old Norse flytja to carry, convey,
Swedish flytta. See
fleet2 Related forms flit·ting·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for flitted hover ,
flicker ,
whiz ,
zip ,
dart ,
fly ,
rush ,
flash ,
run ,
whisk ,
float ,
sail ,
sweep ,
scud ,
skim ,
dance ,
pass ,
fleet ,
hurry ,
speed Examples from the Web for flitted Contemporary Examples of flitted Lobbyist Lloyd Hand, a former aide to Lyndon Johnson, flitted from conversation to conversation.
As she departed her glance just flitted over my face in disapproval.
He flitted around London wearing a ludicrous gas mask over his face…to disguise himself from paparazzi?
One was the mind of the bomber, Humam al-Balawi, a man who flitted precariously between opposing camps.
Historical Examples of flitted But she flitted away, as she had done before from the knights.
A smile of infinite irony, infinite sorrow, flitted and faded from her face.
They flitted to and fro, scanning wide bands of the surface of Dara.
I exclaimed, and the thought of Roxalanne flitted through my mind.
Often across this preoccupation there flitted a thought of the Richlings.
British Dictionary definitions for flitted verb flits , flitting or flitted (intr) to move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart to fly rapidly and lightly; flutter to pass quickly; fleet a 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 Show More
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 Show More
Derived Forms 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
Word Origin and History for flitted v. c.1200, flutten "convey, move, take, carry away, go away," perhaps from Old Norse flytja "to remove, bring."
Theire desire ... is to goe to theire newe masters eyther on a Tewsday, or on a Thursday; for ... they say Munday flitte, Neaver sitte. [Henry Best, farming & account book, 1641] Related: Flitted ; flitting . As a noun, from 1835.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
