flaked; flaking
1
: to separate into flakes
Bake the fish until it flakes easily.
also
: to peel in flakes
old paint flaking off
2
or flake out informal
: to fail or neglect to do or participate in something previously scheduled, agreed upon, or assigned
He'd disappear, then text, disappear, and then text again. So it's not particularly surprising that when we finally made plans to meet he flaked without a word.—
Kerensa Cadenas
Kerensa CadenasMy brother isn't the type to flake out without warning.—D. Morgan Ballmer
—often used with onD. Morgan BallmerTo avoid being plan B with your … pal, establish a regular routine that's harder to flake on …—Laura Gilbert
Laura GilbertLet's get him to sign his name to that before he flakes out on you!—Rhoda Janzen
Rhoda Janzen
: a stage, platform, or tray for drying fish or produce
Synonyms of flake
Examples of flake in a Sentence
Noun (1)
sprinkle the cake with coconut flakes
Verb
Bake the fish until it flakes easily when tested with a fork.
Noun (3)
the lady with all those cats is sweet, but kind of a flake
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Cook mustard greens with olive oil and spices like pepper flakes and garlic, then add vinegar or lemon juice to balance the bitterness.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Nov. 2025
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Your scalp may feel itchy and irritated as the skin flakes off due to dandruff.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flake
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Diddy would have been given the options of bran flakes, breakfast cake or bread with jelly.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Cook mustard greens with olive oil and spices like pepper flakes and garlic, then add vinegar or lemon juice to balance the bitterness.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
These micro-vibrations cause the ice to crack and flake away, all without heating the surface.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Your scalp may feel itchy and irritated as the skin flakes off due to dandruff.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flake
Cite this Entry
“Flake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flake. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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