flipped; flipping
Definition of flip
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: to toss so as to cause to turn over in the air
flip a coin flip a pancake
also
: toss
flip me the ball flip one end of the scarf over your shoulder
2a
: to cause to turn and especially to turn over
flipped the car flipping the pages of a book
b
: to move with a small quick motion
flip a switch
c
: to turn (something) on or off with a switch
flip on/off the lights
d
: to change or move through (channels, stations, etc.) quickly
flipping channels with the remote control
3
: to buy and usually renovate (real estate) so as to quickly resell at a higher price
He's flipped three houses for a substantial profit.
4
: to cause or persuade (a witness) to cooperate in prosecuting a criminal case against an associate
… wrote that the … probe seemed to have reached the stage where investigators are in the process of flipping witnesses.— Nancy LeTourneau
1
: to make a twitching or flicking movement
the fish flipped and flopped on the deck
2a
: to turn or roll from one side to the other : turn over
The crab had flipped onto its back. The car flipped over.
b
: to do a somersault in the air : to do a flip
He flipped off the diving board.
3a
: to change from one state, position, subject, etc., to another
The job market flipped from hot to cold. The commercial flipped back and forth between scenes of country life and city life.
b
: to change or move through channels, pages, etc.
He sat on the couch flipping through the channels. flip to another station flip through the pages of a magazine
c
: to cooperate in the prosecution of a criminal case against an associate
Before sentencing, two more members defected…. And, soon after receiving his 45-year sentence in May 1989, Leonetti flipped, too.— Marguerite Del Giudice
4
slang
a
: to lose one's mind or composure
—often used with out The patient flipped out in manic behavior.She flipped out when she heard about her son's accident.
b
: to become very enthusiastic
flip the script
informal
: to achieve an outcome or adopt an approach that is opposite to or completely different from what has happened or been done previously
Now, having won three of the last nine majors, Mickelson has flipped the script on Woods.— Alan Shipnuck … the chance to flip the script, to go from 0-6 with a chance to finish the second half of the year 5-1, is motivating Nebraska players this week.— Steve Batterson If you let your inner critic do all the talking, of course she's going to chip away at your self-esteem. Make a conscious choice to flip the script for the next week and see how dramatically it alters your outlook.— Petra Guglielmetti
flip
nounDefinition of flip (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: a mixed drink usually consisting of a sweetened spiced liquor with beaten eggs
2
: an act or instance of flipping
3
: the motion used in flipping
4
: a somersault especially in the air
5
: a holder for a collectible coin made of vinyl or cardboard with a plastic window and often having a sleeve in which to place an identifying insert
flip
adjectiveDefinition of flip (Entry 3 of 3)
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Who Knew?
-
- What is a ruelle?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share flip
Time Traveler for flip
The first known use of flip was in 1616
See more words from the same year