flirt

verb \ ˈflərt \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of flirt

intransitive verb

1 : to move erratically : flit

butterflies flirting among the flowers

2 a : to behave amorously without serious intent

He flirts with every attractive woman he meets.

b : to show superficial or casual interest or liking

flirted with the idea

; also : experiment

a novelist flirting with poetry

3 : to come close to reaching or experiencing something —used with with

flirting with disaster

transitive verb

1 : flick

They flirt water at each other's faces.

2 : to move in a jerky manner

a bird flirting its tail

—

flirtation

play \ˌflər-ˈtā-shən\ noun

—

flirter

noun

—

flirty

play \ˈflər-tē\ adjective

See flirt defined for English-language learners

See flirt defined for kids

Examples of flirt in a Sentence

They were flirting all night.
the servers at that restaurant flirt with all the customers

Recent Examples of flirt from the Web

In 2014, when Kim Kardashian showed up as a couch, even Kanye—not yet flirting with the alt-right, and merely the most influential man in fashion—turned up in a black-and-white tux.

— cam wolf, GQ, "At the Met Gala, Menswear Finally Gave Us Something to Talk About," 9 May 2018
Jake Eissler and Haylen Green were named National Pitchers of the Week by Collegiate Baseball after both flirted with perfection in starts over the weekend.

— stefan stevenson, star-telegram, "After the week that was, it's only fitting TCU pitchers earn national honors | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 8 May 2018
Once there, they were allegedly encouraged to drink and flirt with the men.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "NFL Cheerleaders Say They Were Required to Pose Topless, Serve As Escorts," 2 May 2018
Even Redskins cornerback Josh Norman proved he's got moves, flirting his way to the top of the field.

— the washington post, cleveland.com, "'Dancing with the Stars' recap: Adam Rippon is stunning, Tonya Harding on the brink of elimination," 1 May 2018
At various times, everyone from Whoopie Goldberg to Spike Lee to Lance Armstrong has been rumored to flirt with the movie idea.

— todd balf, Outside Online, "Why Haven't You Heard of Marshall "Major" Taylor?," 19 Apr. 2018
After flirting with the idea of a third term, Corker decided against re-election in February.

— grace donnelly, Fortune, "Paul Ryan Is Stepping Down. Here Are All the Republicans in Congress Not Seeking Re-Election," 11 Apr. 2018
Thompson takes pole vault and flirts with 16-feet Timber Creek senior Austin Thompson upped his career-best for the pole vault to 15 feet, 9 inches and just missed on two of his three tries to surpass 16 feet on Thursday.

— buddy collings, OrlandoSentinel.com, ""Region of Death" track and field report | West Orange girls, Brantley boys take titles," 26 Apr. 2018
Brady’s teammate Rob Gronkowski has flirted more seriously with retirement this winter but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported Sunday that the Patriots expect both Brady and Gronkowski to be with the team this season.

— dan gartland, SI.com, "Tom Brady Expected to Play This Year, His Agent Says," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flirt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of flirt

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1580

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

flirt Synonyms

Synonyms

dance, dart, flick, flicker, flit, flitter, flutter, zip;

Near Antonyms

float, hang, hover;

scamper, scud, scurry, scuttle, skip, skitter;

meander, ramble, roam, wander;

Synonym Discussion of flirt

trifle, toy, dally, flirt, coquet mean to deal with or act toward without serious purpose. trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt.

- to trifle with a lover's feelings

toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers.

- a political novice toying with great issues

dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement.

- dallying with the idea of building a boat someday

flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object.

- flirted with one fashionable ism after another

coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention.

- companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations

flirt

noun

Definition of flirt

1 : an act or instance of flirting

2 : a person who flirts

See flirt defined for English-language learners

Examples of flirt in a Sentence

he's just a harmless flirt, so don't take him seriously

Recent Examples of flirt from the Web

Since 2009, New York City’s annual bus ridership has plunged by almost 11 percent, even as the city’s population booms and its overcrowded subway flirts with collapse.

— aarian marshall, WIRED, "NYC Is Redesigning Its Ancient, Ponderous, and Unpopular Bus System," 24 Apr. 2018
Flown flirts with trying to pull off too many ideas, but the ride-the-lightning guitar talents of Corey Standifer and crackerjack drumming of Jacob Kozlowski are undeniable.

— david lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "Record Store Day acts set off musical fireworks at Indianapolis shops," 22 Apr. 2018
Torres is a flirt, and something of a sucker for a good accent, and flirts with Giles throughout the second episode.

— michaela bechler, Vogue, "Netflix Announces Another Season of Nailed It!—Here’s Why You Should Binge-Watch the First," 26 Mar. 2018
Or even just a flirty-flirt that has one sour note in it.

— katie kilkenny, Billboard, "Barry Diller Weighs in on #MeToo Movement: 'All Men Are Guilty'," 24 Mar. 2018
Or even just a flirty-flirt that has one sour note in it.

— katie kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, "Barry Diller Weighs in on #MeToo Movement: "All Men Are Guilty"," 24 Mar. 2018
Still, some of the White House officials acknowledged that Trump did once flirt with removing Mueller.

— mary clare jalonick, Washington Post, "GOP leaders have yet to move to protect special counsel," 20 Mar. 2018
In a colorful party, Monaé mingles and flirts with both Tessa Thompson and an equally attractive man.

— refinery29.com, "Demi Lovato & Q-Tip Just Gave Us Another Pro-LGBTQ+ Music Video," 16 Mar. 2018
President Donald Trump’s new budget proposal flirts with combating high prescription drug prices, but industry watchers say the tweaks to Medicare and Medicaid do little more than dance around the edges of lowering the actual prices of drugs.

— sarah jane tribble, Washington Post, "Trump’s Budget Proposal Swings At Drug Prices With A Glancing Blow," 12 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of flirt

see ¹flirt

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1590

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

FLIRT Defined for English Language Learners

flirt

verb

Definition of flirt for English Language Learners

: to behave in a way that shows a sexual attraction for someone but is not meant to be taken seriously
: to think about something or become involved in something in a way that is usually not very serious
: to come close to reaching or experiencing something

flirt

noun

Definition of flirt for English Language Learners

: a person who enjoys flirting with other people : a flirtatious person

FLIRT Defined for Kids

flirt

verb \ ˈflərt \

Definition of flirt for Students

flirted; flirting

: to show a romantic interest in someone just for fun

flirt

noun

Definition of flirt for Students

: a person who flirts a lot

Learn More about flirt

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flirt

Definition of flirt

flirtation

flirter

flirty

Examples of flirt in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flirt from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flirt

flirt Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of flirt

flirt

Definition of flirt

Examples of flirt in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flirt from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flirt

FLIRT Defined for English Language Learners

flirt

Definition of flirt for English Language Learners

flirt

Definition of flirt for English Language Learners

FLIRT Defined for Kids

flirt

Definition of flirt for Students

flirt

Definition of flirt for Students

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