flounce

¹ American  

[flouns] / flaʊns /

verb (used without object)

flounced, flouncing

1. to go with impatient or impetuous, exaggerated movements.

   The star flounced out of the studio in a rage.

   Synonyms:

   bounce, prance, bound, storm

2. to throw the body about spasmodically; flounder.

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noun

1. an act or instance of flouncing; a flouncing movement.

flounce ² American  

[flouns] / flaʊns /

noun

1. a strip of material gathered or pleated and attached at one edge, with the other edge left loose or hanging: used for trimming, as on the edge of a skirt or sleeve or on a curtain, slipcover, etc.

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verb (used with object)

flounced, flouncing

1. to trim with flounces.

flounce ¹ British  

/ flaʊns /

verb

1. (intr; often foll by about, away, out, etc) to move or go with emphatic or impatient movements

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noun

1. the act of flouncing

flounce ² British  

/ flaʊns /

noun

1. an ornamental gathered ruffle sewn to a garment by its top edge

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Usage

What else does flounce mean? The internet slang term flounce means "to leave an online group in a dramatic manner," and may or may not involve burning a few bridges or stirring the pot on the way out.

Etymology

Origin of flounce¹

1535–45; of obscure origin; perhaps akin to Norwegian flunsa to hurry

Origin of flounce²

First recorded in 1665–75; alteration of obsolete frounce wrinkle

Explanation

To flounce is to move in an exaggerated, emphatic way, especially if your movement expresses anger or impatience. A young child who doesn't like what's for dinner might stand up and flounce away from the table. If you feel you've been misunderstood, you might need to stifle the urge to flounce off in a huff — it's more mature to stay and try to explain yourself. Flounce is also a noun, meaning both the action of flouncing and a ruffle: "I'll make this dress look fancier by sewing a flounce on the bottom." The huffy movement meaning came first, possibly from a Scandinavian source.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flounce flounced flouncing

Only a generation ago, some gardener-critics thought them lacking in elegance and refinement, too conspicuous in their flounce.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 15, 2022

The Hollywood Reporter's Robyn Bahr agreed that "the flounce and fizziness of the original series are largely absent from this moodier and more self-serious one".

From BBC ● Dec. 9, 2021

In the Bourse de la Commence, a finely tailored business-like jacket filed by above a gray skirt with a flounce cut on the bias.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 1, 2021

In photo shoots, they wore outfits with a Baroque flounce: blazers and ruffled shirts, ascots and sleeve garters.

From New York Times ● Sep. 27, 2020

With a flounce of petticoats she turned away.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

In fact, he was in one of the studios and we were in another studio the night that he flounced out.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2024

A few months later, he quietly crawled back to Twitter and starting posting again, never acknowledging that he had flounced away in righteous indignation.

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2021

It’s less flounced up in audio taffata, and Gaga’s vocals are throaty and heartfelt, on a sonic plane that’s been sanded out of the official version.

From Slate ● Oct. 24, 2016

I would have said “no one’s pressuring me,” as I flounced along to Stringfellows if that’s where the party went.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 23, 2016

“Fine,” she said, then flounced out of the room.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

Manuel Puig’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman” is perhaps best known in the U.S. as the film that won William Hurt an Oscar for flouncing around a prison cell in a kimono.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2023

"Rather than flouncing off", said Mr Hussain, the judge showed humour and "embraced" the fluffy intruder.

From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2021

As the Mistress, Elizabeth Debicki is a flouncing yet imposing presence.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 9, 2013

A friend told her she looked thin, stylish and beautiful before flouncing off.

From New York Times ● Dec. 3, 2011

My first thought was that the yellow ring had gotten tangled in a bush, and while the monkeys were flouncing and dragging the net over the ground, the net had opened.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls