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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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
Southern Lebanon — Driving south on a coastal road in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese and Hezbollah flags that line the road suddenly switch to Israeli flags. — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 The palms that flag La Palma’s front terrace, open to Via Vittorio Emanuele, look like art deco replicas made for the 1930s set. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
Alleged shooter was flagged by OpenAI's systems The Tumbler Ridge shooting was among the worst in Canadian history. — Shannon Bond, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026 The 2022 Nature Biotechnology review urged rigorous clinical testing, and later reviews continued to flag reliability and standardization issues. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 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
  • In 2016, the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, celebrating a second straight win over Carolina, this time on banner night.
    — Chad Graff, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Mann, 42, started making YouTube content in 2018 under the Dhar Mann Studios banner, centered around morality and motivational videos.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of banner
Noun
  • Issues involving crew fatigue and performance, along with warning signal flaws, are surfacing as federal authorities continue to probe a fatal freight train crash in Elgin last fall.
    — Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The finding could help scientists distinguish genuine signs of dark matter from misleading signals.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of signal
Verb
  • Petals that are fading, drooping, dropping off, or turning brown are all signs that the flower is reaching the end of its life and is ready to be removed.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Nutrient Deficiencies While less common, peace lilies can eventually exhaust the supply of nutrients in their potting soil and start drooping as a result.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of droop
Verb
  • As his memories begin to fade, he's left in a panic, not wanting to lose everything.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • It was designed to give Hawthorne’s fading downtown a boost with three major department stores — JCPenney in addition to the Broadway and Montgomery Ward — as well as numerous shops and a movie theater.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of fade
Verb
  • One person told police that Rodriguez was standing on the sidewalk outside the church when Rodriguez motioned for the person to fight him – after which Rodriguez approached and started swinging fists in his direction, according to court records.
    — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Councilor Jennifer Sigette motioned to keep the city meeting open so everyone would have a chance to comment, to no avail.
    — Gabriel Brito, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Aug. 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
  • Yet the specter of AIDS hangs over him like the Sword of Damocles.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The Prepared Hero Fire Blanket is designed to help smother small fires by cutting off their oxygen supply and comes in a ready-to-hang pouch for easy access.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of hang
Verb
  • Dairy cows are producing less milk and birthing fewer or weakened calves.
    — Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Though Hurricane Marie continues to weaken in the southern Pacific Ocean — and is expected to remain hundreds of miles off the Southern California coastline — the region can still expect to feel some effects from the storm over the next few days.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of weaken

Phrases Containing flag

Browse Nearby Words

flaccid
flag
flagellate
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Cite this Entry

“Flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flag. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flag

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flag

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