flicker

1 of 3

verb

flick·​er ˈfli-kər How to pronounce flicker (audio)
flickered; flickering ˈfli-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce flicker (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to move irregularly or unsteadily : flutter
Shadows flickered on the wall.
2
: to burn or shine fitfully or with a fluctuating light
a candle flickering in the window
3
: to appear or pass briefly or quickly
Thoughts flickered through his mind.
A smile flickered across her face.

transitive verb

1
: to cause to flicker
2
: to produce by flickering

flicker

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: an act of flickering
b
: a sudden brief movement
the flicker of an eyelash
c
: a momentary quickening
a flicker of anger
d
: a slight indication : hint
a flicker of recognition
2
a
: a wavering light
the flicker of a candle
b
: a repeated momentary defect in a cathode-ray tube image caused especially by slow scanning of the screen
3
dated, informal : movie
often used in plural
flickery adjective

flicker

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a large barred and spotted North American woodpecker (Colaptes auratus) with a brown back that commonly forages on the ground for ants compare red-shafted flicker, yellow-shafted flicker

Examples of flicker in a Sentence

Verb A TV was flickering in the background. The overhead light kept flickering off and on. Thoughts flickered through his mind. A smile flickered across her face. Noun (1) as a child, the future director would spend hours sitting in the theater, totally entranced by the flickers usually there's a flicker in car sales when the new models come out there was a flicker of recognition in her eye when I mentioned his name, but she denied knowing him
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
The wind howled outside and the lights began to flicker around 8 p.m., Miller told USA TODAY. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024 The flickering lights commemorated Lord, 16, who was beaten in a gang attack at a Halloween party one year ago. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
Each flicker of a bulb pays homage to the transformation that petroleum facilitates. Sahit Muja, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 North America's severe geomagnetic storm produces visible aurora Early in October, Americans from the northern U.S. and even as far south as Alabama had a chance to witness the striking rays, spirals and flickers of the northern lights. Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for flicker 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English flikeren, from Old English flicorian

Noun (2)

probably imitative of its call

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun (1)

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1809, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near flicker

Cite this Entry

“Flicker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flicker. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

flicker

1 of 3 verb
flick·​er ˈflik-ər How to pronounce flicker (audio)
flickered; flickering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce flicker (audio)
1
: to move irregularly or unsteadily : flutter
2
: to burn unsteadily or with a constantly changing light
a flickering candle

flicker

2 of 3 noun
1
: an act of flickering
2
: a brief stirring
a flicker of interest
3
: a flickering light
flickery adjective

flicker

3 of 3 noun
: a large insect-eating North American woodpecker with a black crescent on the breast and yellow or red on the underside of the wings and tail compare red-shafted flicker, yellow-shafted flicker

Medical Definition

flicker

noun
flick·​er ˈflik-ər How to pronounce flicker (audio)
: the wavering or fluttering visual sensation produced by intermittent light when the interval between flashes is not small enough to produce complete fusion of the individual impressions

More from Merriam-Webster on flicker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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