flutter

play

verb flut·ter \ ˈflə-tər \

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

See flutter defined for English-language learners

See flutter defined for kids

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

Next, the flag of the city of Milan fluttered down, and then a small medal depicting the Virgin of the Fire, a gift to Nobile from the citizens of Forli, a small northern city.

— eva holland, Smithsonian, "Flying to the North Pole in an Airship Was Easy. Returning Wouldn’t Be So Easy," 18 Aug. 2017
These fossils, paleontologist Daniel Ksepka and colleagues report, belong to a new species of prehistoric bird that fluttered around just a few million years after the non-avian dinosaurs were all wiped out by a wayward asteroid.

— brian switek, Scientific American Blog Network, "A Fossil Bird in the Hand...," 2 Aug. 2017
IN CRISP white uniforms and standing to attention beneath a fluttering red flag with five golden stars, the sailors on board the People’s Liberation Army ships setting sail for Djibouti on July 11th represent a significant step for China.

— The Economist, "China goes to Africa," 20 July 2017
Harmonic fluttering connected the final movement, swirling round like a sky-obscuring Kaleidoscope of butterflies.

— by libby hanssen, kansascity, "Summerfest impresses with brilliant colors, subtle hues of the 20th century.," 16 July 2017
The line rolled straight in the air, the furry hook fluttered down and floated naturally, the trout rose and sipped, the rod tip, sober as a dancer, rose up.

— kyle stock, Bloomberg.com, "Will the Orvis H3 Be the One Fly Rod to Rule Them All?," 11 July 2017
The sticky notes in Boulder, since taken away by recycling, are the fluttering physical sign of a stark reality following a week that swept this state's election officials into a swirl of controversy.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "This Is Voter Terrorism," 10 July 2017
Designer Bertrand Guyon took the iconic Parisian couturier’s passion for painting Monday to produce a diaphanous collection of couture gowns that fluttered by guests at Paris’ Place Vendome.

— thomas adamson, The Seattle Times, "Art mixes with the aquatic for Paris Couture Week," 3 July 2017
Designer Bertrand Guyon took the iconic Parisian couturier's passion for painting Monday to produce a diaphanous collection of couture gowns that fluttered by guests at Paris' Place Vendome.

— thomas adamson, Detroit Free Press, "Art mixes with the aquatic for Paris Couture Week," 3 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

flutter Synonyms

Synonyms

dance, dart, flick, flicker, flirt, flitter, flit, zip

Related Words

dash, fly, sail, shoot, speed, sprint, zing, zoom; scamper, scud, scurry, scuttle, skip, skitter; meander, ramble, roam, wander

Near Antonyms

float, hang, hover

flutter

noun

Definition of flutter

1 :an act of fluttering

2 a :a state of nervous confusion or excitement

b :flurry, commotion

c :abnormal spasmodic fluttering of a body part

treatment of atrial flutter

3 a :a distortion in reproduced sound similar to but of a higher pitch than wow

b :fluctuation in the brightness of a television image

4 :an unwanted oscillation (as of an aileron or a bridge) set up by natural forces

5 chiefly British :a small speculative venture or gamble

See flutter defined for English-language learners

Examples of flutter in a Sentence

With a flutter of wings, the birds settled into the nest.
The flutter of the flame cast shadows on the ceiling.
He was in a flutter until he found his keys.
The news of her resignation caused quite a flutter.
have a flutter on a horse in the second race

Recent Examples of flutter from the Web

A gentle flutter of his wings, off to the side of the action.

— amy bartner, Indianapolis Star, "Watch: Mayor Joe Hogsett knows he has no rhythm, but dances anyway," 29 Aug. 2017
While some Russian millennials were (allegedly) honing their intercontinental hacking skills, the mega pop star known as Vitas was perfecting his falsetto tongue flutter.

— doug maccash, NOLA.com, "Outrageous Russian singer Vitas should move to New Orleans, right?," 24 July 2017
In addition to jigs and dropshots, many anglers succeed with large crankbaits like the Strike King 8XD or 10XD as well as large flutter spoons.

— frank sargeant, AL.com, "Ledge fishing time on TVA lakes," 7 June 2017
Front and center is a huge glass column filled with water, through which tropical fish flutter in pretty circles around juts of coral.

— talia lavin, The New Yorker, "Drink a Fishbowl in the Dream Hotel," 29 May 2017
The researchers found that more than 3,300 of the participants were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (a condition in which the heart beats faster than usual but not irregularly) during a follow-up period that averaged 13.5 years.

— cari nierenberg, Washington Post, "Eating chocolate may help prevent a fairly common heart problem," 27 May 2017
Meanwhile, Smith and her neighbors watch the grass go uncut and the shredded flag flutter over the battered school.

— carole carlson, Post-Tribune, "Gary's forsaken schools offer sober lessons in blight," 26 May 2017
The wind whistles through the trees overhead, the birds chirp and flutter, a brook babbles along, the car horns and radios on a nearby highway blare incessantly…wait, car horns?

— Fox News, "Human-made noise disrupting the serenity of natural parks, impacting wildlife, study says," 8 May 2017
Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, was found during a recent annual physical to have an atrial flutter, according to a news release from his office.

— katherine skiba, chicagotribune.com, "Durbin has outpatient heart procedure," 2 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of flutter

see ¹flutter

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1641

See Words from the same year

flutter Synonyms

Synonyms

burst, flare, flare-up, flash, flicker, flurry, outbreak, outburst, spurt

Antonyms

sure thing

Related Words

recrudescence, recurrence, renewal; binge, jag, spree; boost, increase, pickup, upswing, upturn; epidemic, eruption, explosion, paroxysm; deluge, flood, rush, spate, surge, volley; commotion, furor, uproar

Near Antonyms

calm, doldrums, slump

Other Audio Recording Terms

baffle, dub, fidelity, transcription, treble

FLUTTER Defined for English Language Learners

flutter

play

verb

Definition of flutter for English Language Learners

of a bird or insect : to move or flap the wings quickly without flying
: to fly lightly with quick beats of the wings
: to move with quick, light movements

flutter

noun

Definition of flutter for English Language Learners

: a quick, light movement
: a state of excitement or confusion
: a small bet

FLUTTER Defined for Kids

flutter

play

verb flut·ter \ ˈflə-tər \

Definition of flutter for Students

fluttered; fluttering

1 :to move the wings rapidly without flying or in making short flights

Butterflies fluttered over the garden.

2 :to move with a quick flapping motion

Flags fluttered in the wind.

3 :to move about excitedly Salesclerks fluttered about the store.

flutter

noun

Definition of flutter for Students

1 :an act of moving or flapping quickly

a flutter of wings

2 :a state of excitement

The contestants were all in a flutter.

Medical Dictionary

flutter

play

noun flut·ter \ ˈflət-ər \

medical Definition of flutter

:an abnormal rapid spasmodic and usually rhythmic motion or contraction of a body part

diaphragmatic flutter

affected with ventricular flutter

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flutter

intransitive verb

Learn More about flutter

See words that rhyme with flutter Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flutter Spanish Central: Translation of flutter Nglish: Translation of flutter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flutter for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flutter

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flutter

Definition of flutter

flutterer

fluttery

From the M-W Editors

Examples of flutter in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flutter from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flutter

flutter Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

flutter

Definition of flutter

Examples of flutter in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flutter from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flutter

flutter Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Audio Recording Terms

FLUTTER Defined for English Language Learners

flutter

Definition of flutter for English Language Learners

flutter

Definition of flutter for English Language Learners

FLUTTER Defined for Kids

flutter

Definition of flutter for Students

flutter

Definition of flutter for Students

Medical Dictionary

flutter

medical Definition of flutter

flutter

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