flutter

1 of 2

verb

flut·​ter ˈflə-tər How to pronounce flutter (audio)
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 noun
fluttery adjective

flutter

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act of fluttering
2
a
: a state of nervous confusion or excitement
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

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
As Patrón trotted past, the models collectively fluttered like a swarm of starlings. Upon returning, Patrón spent the rest of the evening at the bar, his front paws resting on its edge, as though waiting for a drink. Amanda Fortini, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Shift dress are covered in the front with wispy, monochrome tabs that flutter with each step. Colleen Barry, Quartz, 22 Feb. 2024 One came on a beautiful deflection that fluttered past Flames goalie Dustin Wolf and into the net. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2024 Hannah Moses took the lead in Ravel’s third slow movement, evoking a haunting move as the other instruments fluttered above. Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 26 Jan. 2024 And in order to focus on foraging for the right berries, or capturing prey, our brains had to filter out the chaos around us, whether that meant buzzing insects, fluttering leaves or a host of other distractions. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 When Johnny Link, the heard-of-hearing actor playing Jones, raises a prop rifle, another performer flaps an umbrella to conjure the sound of birds fluttering overhead. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2024 Overhead, pink and orange banners fluttered against an inky night sky. Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2024 While the Lakers continue to flutter around .500, while fans rip coach Darvin Ham’s lineups and rotations and demand his head — or a season-saving trade, or both — the Clippers quietly and smoothly keep winning. Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024
Noun
Guitars flutter, an accordion wheezes and a singer unwinds the triumphant tale of Fernando Ochoa Jauregui, a Modesto-area builder of food trucks and trailers. Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Its early focus has been on flutter and loads testing as well as flying-handling qualities. Eric Tegler, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 According to Paul, the ethos of a squadron, much like a company's corporate culture, transforms with every flutter in command – the embodiment of its commander’s spirit. Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024 Both arms flutter in exultation as the angelic sound majestically rises, puncturing the heavens deeply until perfect silence lands at his hardened feet. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024 Bridging the stories are interludes during which the koto weaves its spell while a small white butterfly (with light bulb attached) flutters about. Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 21 Jan. 2024 Last year, her heart started to beat faster than normal and she was diagnosed with a condition called atrial flutter. Gina Ryder, STAT, 3 Jan. 2024 The hackle feather tails also hide the trebles, providing a bit of extra stealth and flutter. Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024 The lead part flutters, flies, and ultimately soars. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flutter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of flutter was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near flutter

Cite this Entry

“Flutter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flutter. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

flutter

1 of 2 verb
flut·​ter ˈflət-ər How to pronounce flutter (audio)
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 adjective

flutter

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of fluttering
2
3
: an unsteadiness of pitch in reproduced sound

Medical Definition

flutter

noun
flut·​ter ˈflət-ər How to pronounce flutter (audio)
: an abnormal rapid spasmodic and usually rhythmic motion or contraction of a body part
diaphragmatic flutter
affected with ventricular flutter
flutter intransitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on flutter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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