flag 1 of 3

noun

Definition of flagnext
1
as in banner
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling the flags of both countries were prominently displayed at the treaty signing

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2
as in signal
an object intended to give public notice or warning road crews using handheld stop signs as flags at both ends of the highway construction zone

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flag

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to droop
to be limp from lack of water or vigor flowers flagging in the summer heat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor we flagged as we neared the end of the long mountain trail

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flag

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to motion
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture flagged the cars into the other parking lot

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flag
Noun
Iranian pro-government demonstrators wave flags in Tehran on Tuesday. — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026 Back in 2014, a Ukraine defense ministry spokesperson told CNN that the Zaporizhzhia had been taken over and placed under the flag of the Russian naval fleet when its commander abandoned it. — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
Detector may not flag lying cops Another change that Flock introduced to help solve the stalker cop problem includes requiring case numbers for searches. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026 The tool flags abnormal search behavior — for example, by an individual officer. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flag
  1. banner
  2. signal
  3. droop
  4. fade
  5. motion
  6. ensign
  7. hang
  8. weaken
Noun
  • The banner Villa fans held aloft before kick-off read ‘Unleash the Lions’.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Currently in development with Wachowski’s Anarchists United and Natasha Lyonne’s Ariadne banner, the pair teamed up last weekend on a live read event for the film at Dynasty Typewriter.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of banner
Noun
  • Four of the eight resulted in gains and four in losses, underscoring the lack of a clear directional signal.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Their circuits can process multiple inputs and direct signals toward specific outputs.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of signal
Verb
  • A little midday drooping is normal, according to Deaton, but prolonged periods of extreme heat can put additional stress on plants.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, some plants intentionally droop during the hottest part of the day to conserve moisture.
    — Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 28 July 2026
Definition of droop
Verb
  • Starring Zhou Xun, Wang Xiao and Tian Zhuangzhuang, the film revolves around a middle-aged former TV host whose memory starts to slowly fade, forcing her to confront the fractures within her family and the choices that shaped her life.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • But workers who are rusting out still report to their shifts and perform, although with a fading sense of purpose.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of fade
Verb
  • After listening for several seconds, Gulbeyan motioned for arena security.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Faragna motioned to Nardulli to step to one side and spoke into his ear with circumspection.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of motion
Noun
  • The young ensign who, after seven seasons, remained an Ensign, Harry Kim was kind of the dork of the show, which is saying something for Star Trek.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
  • The ensign is hoisted, the pennant is broken, the orders have been read, the first watch set.
    — Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of ensign
Verb
  • The free hanging straps are actually the tails of the zipper, Zurek adds.
    — Talia Abbas, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Her sari—royal-purple silk stitched with miniature golden birds—hung straight down without any visible deviation in service to hips or buttocks.
    — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of hang
Verb
  • That makes the world a more dangerous place, where a mistake by just one actor could ignite a regional firestorm, with a US military weakened by Iran unable to ensure American security.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm Sunday after skirting Hawaii without making landfall, but it wasn’t done punishing the Big Island with hurricane-force gusts.
    — Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of weaken

Phrases Containing flag

Browse Nearby Words

flaccid
flag
flagellate
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Cite this Entry

“Flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flag. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flag

Nglish: Translation of flag for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flag

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