flap
verb (used without object)
to swing or sway back and forth loosely, especially with noise.
was flapping
-
past progressiveof flap.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Shortly before 11:30 a.m., one of the two famous eaglets — later identified as Sandy — was flapping her wings on a branch just outside the nest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026
"I quickly realised something was wrong. He was flapping his arms around and I could see he was choking," she recalled in a statement read at the hearing.
From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2021
Suddenly the stillness was punctured by a staccato tick-tick-ticking: the film in one of the cameras had come to the end of its reel and was flapping obnoxiously.
From New York Times ● May 19, 2021
During this tutorial outburst his shirttail was flapping out behind him, and he alternated between a perch on an overturned wastebasket and the blackboard to illustrate each point.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2018
A florid woman was flapping a pink feather fan.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
