flutter

verb flut·ter \ ˈflə-tər \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of flutter

intransitive verb

1 : to flap the wings rapidly

butterflies fluttering among the flowers

2 a : to move with quick wavering or flapping motions

a sail fluttering in the wind

b : to vibrate in irregular spasms

his heart fluttered

3 : to move about or behave in an agitated aimless manner

She nervously fluttered around the office.

transitive verb

: to cause to flutter

The bird was fluttering its wings.

—

flutterer

play \ˈflə-tər-ər\ noun

—

fluttery

play \ˈflə-tər-ē\ adjective

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Examples of flutter in a Sentence

The bird was fluttering its wings.
The bird's wings were fluttering.
We watched the butterflies fluttering in the garden.
Leaves fluttered to the ground.
The breeze made the curtains flutter.
The breeze fluttered the curtains.
She fluttered her eyelashes at him.
She nervously fluttered around the office.

Recent Examples of flutter from the Web

Bannister glanced up again and saw the flag fluttering oh-so gently.

— michael democker, NOLA.com, "40th running of the Crescent City Classic: photo gallery," 31 Mar. 2018
At extreme velocities at or above the speed of sound, the rocket paneling could flutter, potentially destabilizing the flight trajectory.

— justin webster, Scientific American, "Harnessing the Invisible Power of “Flutter”," 31 Mar. 2018
From wildebeests thundering across the Serengeti plains to monarch butterflies fluttering through North American skies, animal migrations are everywhere, marking the seasons, redistributing vital nutrients, reawakening the senses.

— chicagotribune.com, "Americans take more opioids than any other country — but not because they're in more pain," 26 Mar. 2018
In Peterson, friendly neighbors greeted one another with toothy smiles, and the music of crickets replaced the wail of police sirens, while lightning bugs fluttered around the front yard flickering near the immaculate rose bushes.

— michael a. gonzales, The Root, "Roses," 25 Mar. 2018
It was surrounded by yellow police tape fluttering in the wind.

— maura dolan, latimes.com, "Witness recounts harrowing entry of Yountville gunman as residents and townspeople mourn," 12 Mar. 2018
Bannister glanced up again and saw the flag fluttering oh-so gently.

— chris lehourites, Houston Chronicle, "Roger Bannister, first to run sub 4-minute mile, dies at 88," 4 Mar. 2018
Every match featuring the team is packed with screaming, flag-fluttering Koreans who leap to their feet to cheer on the women’s stunningly precise shots.

— kristen gelineau, Time, "The 'Garlic Girls' Are the Real Rock Stars of the PyeongChang Olympics," 23 Feb. 2018
Every match featuring the team is packed with screaming, flag-fluttering Koreans who leap to their feet to cheer on the women's stunningly precise shots.

— Bloomberg.com, "South Korea’s ‘Garlic Girls’ a Global Sensation," 23 Feb. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of flutter

Middle English floteren to float, flutter, from Old English floterian, frequentative of flotian to float; akin to Old English flēotan to float — more at fleet

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

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