flip

1 of 3

verb

flipped; flipping; flips

transitive verb

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
2
a
: 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

intransitive verb

1
: to make a twitching or flicking movement
the fish flipped and flopped on the deck
2
a
: 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.
3
a
: 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 reason or composure
She completely flipped when she heard about her son's accident.
see also flip one's lid, flip out
b
: to become very enthusiastic

flip

2 of 3

noun

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

3 of 3

adjective

Phrases
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

Examples of flip in a Sentence

Verb She was sitting in the waiting room, flipping the pages of a magazine. His car flipped over on the interstate. Noun the flip of a coin She turned on the lights with the flip of a switch. Adjective made some flip comment about the marriage between the old man and the considerably younger woman
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Parents will love the jokes and kids will flip over the action and the Slimer, though some of the monsters may be too scary for younger children. Kara Nesvig, Parents, 8 Oct. 2024 The squeezing jaws are flipped on their sides from the vertical orientation most juicers have. Noah Kaufman, Bon Appétit, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun
Do a metabolic flip By the end of its nightly fast, a hummingbird has nearly depleted its sugar stores—which poses an opposite metabolic challenge. Bob Holmes, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024 With the flip of a switch, guests can turn on a searchlight that casts geometric shapes and animals across the room, immersing themselves in their very own light projection show. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 8 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Forget Ginger Rogers matching Fred Astaire backward, and in high heels, Sandoz can do it in flip flops. Andrew Ford, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024 Moreover, many arrive in appropriate footwear and clothing, turning up in flip flops for a forty-minute hike and without proper clothing to deal with the changeable weather. Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for flip 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flip.' 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, Noun, and Adjective

probably imitative

First Known Use

Verb

1616, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flip was in 1616

Dictionary Entries Near flip

Cite this Entry

“Flip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flip. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

flip

1 of 3 verb
flipped; flipping
1
: to turn by tossing
flip a coin
2
: to turn over quickly
flip the pages of a magazine
3
: flick entry 2 sense 1
flip a switch
4
: to get excited or angry
you'll flip when you hear this

flip

2 of 3 noun
1
: an act or instance of flipping
2
: a somersault especially in the air

flip

3 of 3 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on flip

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