flirt
Americanverb (used without object)
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flirts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flirted,
past participle, past
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flirting
present participle
verb (used with object)
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flirts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flirted,
past participle, past
-
flirting
present participle
-
to give a sudden or brisk motion to; wave smartly, as a fan.
-
to throw or propel with a toss or jerk; fling suddenly.
verb
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(intr) to behave or act amorously without emotional commitment; toy or play with another's affections; dally
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to deal playfully or carelessly (with something dangerous or serious); trifle
the motorcyclist flirted with death
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to think casually (about); toy (with)
to flirt with the idea of leaving
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(intr) to move jerkily; dart; flit
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(tr) to subject to a sudden swift motion; flick or toss
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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flirtsimple
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flirtssimple
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have flirtedperfect
-
has flirtedperfect
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am flirtingprogressive
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are flirtingprogressive
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is flirtingprogressive
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have been flirtingperfect progressive
-
has been flirtingperfect progressive
Past
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flirtedsimple
-
had flirtedperfect
-
was flirtingprogressive
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were flirtingprogressive
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had been flirtingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of flirt
First recorded in 1540–50; of expressive origin; compare similar initial cluster in flap, flick 1, flip 1 and final elements of squirt, spurt
Explanation
If you're interested in someone romantically, you might flirt with them, which means to chat them up or tease them in a playful way. Flirting is an indirect and fun way to let your crush know you're interested, like a seductive line or a few coy words. Or if there's a girl you've had your eye on, you might make a point of walking by her desk and saying hello every morning. But even if you don't have a love interest, you can still flirt. Driving carelessly is flirting with disaster: it's almost like you're toying with the idea of getting into an accident.
Vocabulary lists containing flirt
"Analysis of Baseball" and "Singing and Stretching"
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The Lions of Little Rock
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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Once everyone is locked in, COs get to lounge around inside the bubble: eat, drink coffee, flirt with each other, complain, maybe nap until they have to perform the 10:30 p.m. count.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
"We expect the Fed to hold through year end even as futures markets flirt with pricing in a hike," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
“I learned to flirt there, I learned to smoke there, I learned to trash-talk there,” she says.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
“They should go out and flirt with all this slop,” Chief Executive Alex Karp said about companies that are shopping for AI.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026
Ned was offended and turned to Sallie for consolation, saying to her rather pettishly, “There isn’t a bit of flirt in that girl, is there?”
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
America flirts with it and folds, every single cycle.
From Slate ● Jun. 6, 2026
It’s great theater when a champion flirts with a crisis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
A great example is when Clark initially flirts with Carol.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026
He even flirts with advocating for marriage equality after meeting with Sharon Stone, although he doesn’t admit that in her presence, and with a roomful of priests bearing witness.
From Salon ● May 10, 2025
He hates it when she flirts with others.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
Scheffler's surprising soliloquy about the importance of chasing golfing greatness caused a stir at Portrush last year and the four-time major winner flirted with similar territory at Birkdale.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
“Throughout my career, I’ve always flirted with the genre,” Peluso said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
After eight seasons with the Lakers, he became an unrestricted free agent and flirted with retirement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
They flirted with free agent saviors like LeBron James and got ignored.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
“My friend Jayme flirted her head off with him, but I knew I was the one he had eyes for. Right, Gus?”
From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor
Papa Pope’s harsh words were meant to prepare his daughter for the risks inherent to flirting with power.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
And, with this year’s Angels flirting with the first 100-loss season in franchise history, are the Angels going to be much better next year?
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
Whether you’re flirting or trying to make friends, it’s easier to exist in places where you’re not thought of as inherently ugly.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
America’s crude inventories are flirting with dangerous levels, while exports of gasoline and diesel hover near records.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
For all his joking and flirting, Leo had never kissed a girl before.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
