flit

verb

flitted; flitting

intransitive verb

1
: to pass quickly or abruptly from one place or condition to another
2
archaic : alter, shift
3
: to move in an erratic fluttering manner
flit noun

Examples of flit in a Sentence

butterflies flitting around the garden The hummingbird flitted from flower to flower. She was always flitting around the kitchen.
Recent Examples on the Web As if to prove the point, a butterfly — specifically, an Arizona sister — flitted among the manzanita underbrush, flashing bright orange spots from the tips of its dark wings. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024 The county’s only city, Oxford, is about an hour from London’s Paddington Station by train and feels like the set of a moody, dark academia film with aristocratic architecture lifted from antiquity, shadowy lanes, and bookish students flitting off to tutorials. Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for flit 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flitten, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse flytjask to move, Old English flēotan to float

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flit was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near flit

Cite this Entry

“Flit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flit. Accessed 2 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

flit

verb
flitted; flitting
: to move or progress in a quick irregular manner
flit noun

More from Merriam-Webster on flit

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