flipped; flipping; flips
1
: to toss so as to cause to turn over in the air
flip a coin
flip a pancake
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
Nancy LeTourneau1
: 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
Marguerite Del Giudice4
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
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
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
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
Steve BattersonIf 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
Petra GuglielmettiSynonyms
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 WebDon Gonyea, NPR, 13 Apr. 2024
Haynes wanted to know how Butler flipped the switch, seemingly at will, whenever the playoffs were on the horizon.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
Still, when asked about the national economy, Wisconsin voters flip those numbers around.
—Paul Kane, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
Another battle for the speaker’s chair could undercut the Republican Party’s efforts to maintain its majority in the House, flip the Senate and win the White House, Bade reported.
—Sarah Beth Hensley, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
While teacher salaries used to exceed the average salaries for other college graduates, that flipped after 2020, the report shows.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
Then again, who is traveling from Oakland to Sacramento to watch a franchise that flipped the city the bird?
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Democrats perennially target Texas in hopes of flipping it blue, and this year is no exception.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Three regents flipped: Walsh, Bogost and student regent Jennifer Staton, who delivered a fiery speech slamming Vos.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Whoever wins flips over a series of playing cards on the game board, trying to guess if the next card will be higher or lower in value than the last.
—Tanner Stransky, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
Now, the design dream team is back with their latest flip on their most recent show, Fixer-Upper: The Lakehouse.
—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024
None were as much of a phenomenon as the Lindy Hop, which emerged in dance halls like the Savoy Ballroom and married moves from other dances including the Charleston, the Texas Tommy and the Breakaway with individual styling and flips, all set to the soaring tempos of swing jazz.
—Debra Kamin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Those are basically a coin flip — and the outcomes are off in the distance, as those cases wind their way through the legal system.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
Those odds are in play if every game was a coin flip – or a fair 50/50 shot.
—Christopher Brito, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
With airy, speak-sing vocals, the New York vocalist and producer—a couple of Brandy flips brought me to her music—sounds off about a guy who’s getting on her nerves.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 Feb. 2024
No matter how large or consequential, the actions Harvey takes rest on the mere flip of the coin.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Twinkling lights lined the ceiling of her office; a small flip book depicting various emotions was opened to a page with a purple creature gritting its teeth and holding up its fists in frustration.
—Ariel Gilreath, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Clarks Breeze Sea Flip Flop $31 What swimsuit is complete without flip flops?
—Bianca Lambert, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
The cabinet features three flip drawers, each with enough space for three pairs of shoes and up to nine total in the units.
—Ali Faccenda, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024
Along with the tank and denim, the singer rocked a fresh haircut, her dark brown tresses falling around shoulder length, with the ends curled in a tousled take on the ‘60s-esque flip hairstyle.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
But like many a flip statement that strikes a deep societal nerve, the toast comment took off for a reason.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024
Nubia Flip Arrives With A Competitive Price Nubia has released its first flip smartphone at MWC and priced it aggressively to take on the mid-range with a folding portable smartphone—the Nubia Flip (also known as the Libero Flip for Japanese customers).
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
With remote work more mainstream than ever, laptops and flip flops are sharing suitcase space.
—The Indianapolis Star, 8 Feb. 2024
Verb
Mook, who works in a mental health practice, is one of those voters who flipped.
—Don Gonyea, NPR, 13 Apr. 2024
Haynes wanted to know how Butler flipped the switch, seemingly at will, whenever the playoffs were on the horizon.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
Still, when asked about the national economy, Wisconsin voters flip those numbers around.
—Paul Kane, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
Another battle for the speaker’s chair could undercut the Republican Party’s efforts to maintain its majority in the House, flip the Senate and win the White House, Bade reported.
—Sarah Beth Hensley, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
While teacher salaries used to exceed the average salaries for other college graduates, that flipped after 2020, the report shows.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
Then again, who is traveling from Oakland to Sacramento to watch a franchise that flipped the city the bird?
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Democrats perennially target Texas in hopes of flipping it blue, and this year is no exception.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Three regents flipped: Walsh, Bogost and student regent Jennifer Staton, who delivered a fiery speech slamming Vos.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
Porter’s decision to run for Senate against fellow Democratic Reps. Adam B. Schiff and Barbara Lee meant the swing-district House seat would be vacant, setting up an expensive race for Democrats — and a potential flip for Republicans — as each side fights for control of Congress.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Whoever wins flips over a series of playing cards on the game board, trying to guess if the next card will be higher or lower in value than the last.
—Tanner Stransky, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
Now, the design dream team is back with their latest flip on their most recent show, Fixer-Upper: The Lakehouse.
—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024
None were as much of a phenomenon as the Lindy Hop, which emerged in dance halls like the Savoy Ballroom and married moves from other dances including the Charleston, the Texas Tommy and the Breakaway with individual styling and flips, all set to the soaring tempos of swing jazz.
—Debra Kamin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Those are basically a coin flip — and the outcomes are off in the distance, as those cases wind their way through the legal system.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
Those odds are in play if every game was a coin flip – or a fair 50/50 shot.
—Christopher Brito, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
With airy, speak-sing vocals, the New York vocalist and producer—a couple of Brandy flips brought me to her music—sounds off about a guy who’s getting on her nerves.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 Feb. 2024
No matter how large or consequential, the actions Harvey takes rest on the mere flip of the coin.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Adjective
In the tradition of so many pregnant people before her, Sofia Richie Grainge has left the house in a pair of flip flops and an elasticated smock dress.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Twinkling lights lined the ceiling of her office; a small flip book depicting various emotions was opened to a page with a purple creature gritting its teeth and holding up its fists in frustration.
—Ariel Gilreath, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Clarks Breeze Sea Flip Flop $31 What swimsuit is complete without flip flops?
—Bianca Lambert, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
The cabinet features three flip drawers, each with enough space for three pairs of shoes and up to nine total in the units.
—Ali Faccenda, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024
Along with the tank and denim, the singer rocked a fresh haircut, her dark brown tresses falling around shoulder length, with the ends curled in a tousled take on the ‘60s-esque flip hairstyle.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
But like many a flip statement that strikes a deep societal nerve, the toast comment took off for a reason.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024
Nubia Flip Arrives With A Competitive Price Nubia has released its first flip smartphone at MWC and priced it aggressively to take on the mid-range with a folding portable smartphone—the Nubia Flip (also known as the Libero Flip for Japanese customers).
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
With remote work more mainstream than ever, laptops and flip flops are sharing suitcase space.
—The Indianapolis Star, 8 Feb. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near flip
Cite this Entry
“Flip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flip. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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 noun1
: an act or instance of flipping
2
: a somersault especially in the air
flip
3 of 3 adjective
: flippant
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