flutter

verb flut·ter \ ˈflə-tər \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: flutter in a Sentence

Definition of flutter

fluttered; fluttering; flutters

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

Hundreds of green, orange and blue butterflies fluttered about the Desert Botanical Garden’s special exhibit this spring.

— melina zuñiga, azcentral, "Got milkweed? Desert Botanical Garden's program could help save Monarch butterflies," 9 June 2018
Monday morning, a few hours after the ruling, celebratory balloons fluttered in the warm sun outside the building, and two men discussed missionary work while drinking coffee.

— trevor hughes, USA TODAY, "At Masterpiece Cakeshop, cheers and smiles for Jack Phillips after Supreme Court ruling," 4 June 2018
As these crystals flutter to the ground, much time is spent with their faces flat and parallel to the ground.

— richard tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Why is there a ring around the sun?," 11 May 2018
There are 85 species fluttering around the conservatory, according to Cincinnati Parks.

— jared gilmour, miamiherald, "This woman was arrested for theft — butterfly theft, Ohio police say | Miami Herald," 27 Apr. 2018
The ribbons are designed to frighten birds by fluttering and sparkling at them.

— rachel becker, The Verge, "These glittering ribbons scare away baby birds and also my focus," 24 Apr. 2018
At one point last season, supporters even hired an advertising plane to fly over a match with the slogan fluttering behind it.

— joshua robinson, WSJ, "Arsène Wenger’s Complicated Legacy at Arsenal," 20 Apr. 2018
With the American and Japanese flags fluttering in the breeze beyond the outfield fence, Game 1 was played at Spiller Field in Strawberry Park and Game 2 was contested at Gary Field, the field that sits next to PAL Gym.

— robert avery, Houston Chronicle, "Former players recall when Pasadena opposed Japan in special series," 25 Mar. 2018
Butterfly Wonderland More than 3,000 butterflies flutter throughout this rainforest exhibit at the OdySea in the Desert pavilion near Scottsdale.

— wendy killeen, azcentral, "Indoor playgrounds, trampoline parks and places in Phoenix kids can play and stay cool," 24 May 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

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year