flag 1 of 3

noun

Definition of flagnext
1
as in banner
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling the flags of both countries were prominently displayed at the treaty signing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in signal
an object intended to give public notice or warning road crews using handheld stop signs as flags at both ends of the highway construction zone

Synonyms & Similar Words

flag

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to droop
to be limp from lack of water or vigor flowers flagging in the summer heat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor we flagged as we neared the end of the long mountain trail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flag

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to motion
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture flagged the cars into the other parking lot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flag
Noun
Makoto, who has deployed the hinomaru in works commenting on Japan’s society and history, took issue with the idea that desecration of the flag is unpatriotic. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 July 2026 The tricolor at the top of both the badge and the shield represents the colors of the Italian flag. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 July 2026
Verb
In this case, Kalshi (which bans this sort of activity) flagged unusual activity, investigated, and found the customer was a federal employee. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026 At the last moment, the couple saw an empty lifeboat returning to the ship and flagged them down. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flag
  1. banner
  2. signal
  3. droop
  4. fade
  5. motion
  6. ensign
  7. hang
  8. weaken
Noun
  • Lonnie has spent the past decade on the Korn-Ferry Tour, the feeder tour for the PGA, which produced The Hawk through its PGA Tour Studios banner.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
  • Pro-government supporters stand next to a banner depicting a portrait of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a nightly rally in Tehran, Iran, on July 12, 2026.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Definition of banner
Noun
  • This signal reached Earth as a continuous invitation to fellowship, and the record-breaking viewership of Artemis II built like a slow cooker feast, with global engagement increasing from launch to splashdown.
    — Aparna Venkatesan, Space.com, 20 July 2026
  • Very early in the morning, however, the moon will make a series of aspects — with Mars, Saturn and Mercury retrograde — that could potentially trigger everything from feelings of restlessness to emotional reactions due to mixed signals.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
Definition of signal
Verb
  • The two most common causes are ptosis, which is a drooping eyelid caused by weakness of the muscle that lifts the eyelid, and dermatochalasis, which is excess eyelid skin.
    — Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • As Lyme disease progresses, a patient can get severe headaches; Bell’s Palsy, involving loss of muscle tone or droop in one or both sides of the face; severe arthritis; heart palpitations; and episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath.
    — Amanda Roome, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
Definition of droop
Verb
  • In a year where everything Skubal does has been fair game for discussion and discord, the barbs surrounding the WBC still have not faded.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • But our excitement fades as Nolan’s camera captures the men raping women, looting houses and reveling in the violence.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2026
Definition of fade
Verb
  • In security footage obtained by ABC 13, the officer, alleged to be Carrico, is seen motioning the woman to take a seat; the woman complies.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • Luz, the group’s search leader and spokesperson for the day, immediately motions with her hand for the group to drive forward.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of motion
Noun
  • The young ensign who, after seven seasons, remained an Ensign, Harry Kim was kind of the dork of the show, which is saying something for Star Trek.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
  • The ensign is hoisted, the pennant is broken, the orders have been read, the first watch set.
    — Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of ensign
Verb
  • But if the Cubs hadn’t won that epic Game 7 in Cleveland and 1908 still hung over the franchise?
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Nothing adds to the backyard magic like the soft glow of string lights, and these durable iron posts are the perfect way to hang them.
    — Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Definition of hang
Verb
  • That makes the hot and cold sides quickly equalize, clearly weakening electricity generation.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
  • The Kospi Index has tumbled 25% since its June peak, resulting in a $1 trillion wipeout that threatens to weaken its global clout.
    — Winnie Hsu, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Definition of weaken

Phrases Containing flag

Browse Nearby Words

flaccid
flag
flagellate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flag. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on flag

Nglish: Translation of flag for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flag

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stalwart

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All