fluttered; fluttering; flutters
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.
: to cause to flutter
The bird was fluttering its wings.
1
: an act of fluttering
2
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
Examples of flutter in a Sentence
Verb
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.
Noun
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 on the Web
Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 24 June 2025
Outside of quintessential Southern porch staples, nature adds an idyllic experience to the outdoors, especially the presence of hummingbirds with their gracefully fluttering wings and gentle humming sound.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
Use fear as your compass That flutter in your stomach when considering your next move serves as your guide.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flutter
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Verb
The card features drawings of flying birds, floating feathers, shooting stars, fluttering butterflies and rowing gondoliers.
—Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 24 June 2025
Outside of quintessential Southern porch staples, nature adds an idyllic experience to the outdoors, especially the presence of hummingbirds with their gracefully fluttering wings and gentle humming sound.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
Noun
Wait by a jacaranda tree long enough to see a petal flutter to the ground.
—Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
Use fear as your compass That flutter in your stomach when considering your next move serves as your guide.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flutter
Cite this Entry
“Flutter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flutter. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flutter
1 of 2 verb
flut·ter
ˈflət-ər 
1
: to move or cause the wings to move rapidly without flying or in short flights
butterflies flutter
2
: to move with quick wavering or flapping motions
flags fluttered in the breeze
3
: to move about or behave in an excited aimless manner
flutter
2 of 2 noun1
: an act of fluttering
2
3
: an unsteadiness of pitch in reproduced sound
Medical Definition
flutter
noun
flut·ter
ˈflət-ər
: an abnormal rapid spasmodic and usually rhythmic motion or contraction of a body part
diaphragmatic flutter
affected with ventricular flutter
flutter
intransitive verb
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