flutter

1 of 2

verb

flut·​ter ˈflə-tər 

fluttered; fluttering; flutters

intransitive verb

1

: to flap the wings rapidly

butterflies fluttering among the flowers

2

a

: to move with quick wavering or flapping motions

a sail fluttering in the wind

b

: to vibrate in irregular spasms

his heart fluttered

3

: to move about or behave in an agitated aimless manner

She nervously fluttered around the office.

transitive verb

: to cause to flutter

The bird was fluttering its wings.

flutterer

ˈflə-tər-ər 

noun

fluttery

ˈflə-tər-ē 

adjective

flutter

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act of fluttering

2

a

: a state of nervous confusion or excitement

b

: flurry, commotion

c

: abnormal spasmodic fluttering of a body part

treatment of atrial flutter

3

a

: a distortion in reproduced sound similar to but of a higher pitch than wow

b

: fluctuation in the brightness of a television image

4

: an unwanted oscillation (as of an aileron or a bridge) set up by natural forces

5

chiefly British : a small speculative venture or gamble

Synonyms

Verb

• flit
• dart
• dance

Noun

• flurry
• burst
• flicker

Examples of flutter in a Sentence

Verb

The bird was fluttering its wings.

The bird's wings were fluttering.

We watched the butterflies fluttering in the garden.

Leaves fluttered to the ground.

The breeze made the curtains flutter.

The breeze fluttered the curtains.

She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

She nervously fluttered around the office.

Noun

With a flutter of wings, the birds settled into the nest.

The flutter of the flame cast shadows on the ceiling.

He was in a flutter until he found his keys.

The news of her resignation caused quite a flutter.

have a flutter on a horse in the second race

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The all-new Elevance Concept SUV isn't as immediately lovable as the classic Delica Chamonix 4x4 vans that still make our hearts flutter generations later. —New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025

No one enjoys finding moths fluttering around the flour or tiny caterpillars crawling in the cereal. —Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025

Noun

The Cowboys have shown flutters of championship potential but have not made a conference final since 1996. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025

Does a sleeve flutter when the wind blows? —Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English floteren to float, flutter, from Old English floterian, frequentative of flotian to float; akin to Old English flēotan to float — more at fleet

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flutter

• flutter kick
• flutter sleeve

Rhymes for flutter

• butter
• clutter
• cutter
• gutter
• mutter
• nutter
• putter
• rutter
• shutter
• sputter
• stutter
• utter

Kids Definition

flutter

1 of 2 verb

flut·​ter ˈflət-ər 

1

: to move or cause the wings to move rapidly without flying or in short flights

butterflies flutter

2

: to move with quick wavering or flapping motions

flags fluttered in the breeze

3

: to move about or behave in an excited aimless manner

fluttery

ˈflət-ə-rē 

adjective

flutter

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of fluttering

2

: flurry sense 2, commotion

3

: an unsteadiness of pitch in reproduced sound

Medical Definition

flutter

noun

flut·​ter ˈflət-ər 

: an abnormal rapid spasmodic and usually rhythmic motion or contraction of a body part

diaphragmatic flutter

affected with ventricular flutter

flutter intransitive verb