darting

verb

present participle of dart
as in flitting
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements the housefly darted about the room until it found an open window and flew out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 darting One kitten stared transfixed through the glass while the other, unfazed, was more interested in darting around playfully. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 Thank you to the San Francisco Zoo for their expertise darting the lion and documenting the scene. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026 One TikTok of the scrappy piggy dodging cars and darting between would-be animal rescuers’ legs racked up nearly a half million views. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Then, after a bullet hit Kirk, Robinson could be seen darting across the roof, dropping to ground level and sprinting away on foot, Hull added. — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 Chelsea attack with venom; Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers are darting flashes of blue steel. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Other textiles in the house were found in India, Egypt, and Kuwait, where Consuelo bought a Bedouin tent, soon to be installed among the fig, persimmon, and pomegranate trees—and the darting lizards—in the gardens. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2026 This conversation was taking place in Jaya Aunty’s living room, and Nidhi’s eyes kept darting about. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 Tagging the Globetrotting travel company, the Fast Five actress shared a carousel of highlights from the safari, including photos of elephants in the wild, horseback riding excursions, and a cheetah darting into a tree—as well as her mini-me. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 28 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darting
  1. flitting
  2. fluttering
  3. dancing
  4. flicking
Verb
  • Multiple anglers reeled in yellowfin tuna, which were visible through the clear water flitting back and forth near the boat.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Upon further review of the camera footage, Sam Gough, a park supervisor for the Incline Village General Improvement District, said the light appeared to be just a bug flitting across the lens.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of flitting
Verb
  • To achieve that fluttering action, the material in these baits is very soft.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Of course, her arms matched the uninterrupted movement of her hair, fluttering in front of the cameras.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of fluttering
Verb
  • The film features drunken sing-alongs and dancing with abandon in the family kitchen.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Eventually a fourth joins the group, dancing with a tiny, glowing stick figure seemingly attached to its belly.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dancing
Verb
  • Coming for a variety of longtime critics of the merger, opposition rose and suspicion about the settlement served to pour gasoline on an already flicking fire.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
  • He’s getting hit sometimes, and just flicking this ball out there.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of flicking

Browse Nearby Words

darted
darting
darts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Darting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darting. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bon vivant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
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
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All