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 When the moon finally flitted across the face of the sun, jubilant cheers rang out. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024 If anyone was complaining last year that Rolex had strayed too far into the circus of color–that The Crown was just having too much fun flitting about—then this year proves that Rolex was always going to return to its quiet place at the center of the horological galaxy. Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024 The plot of most episodes consists of Susie and Eddie flitting from one meeting to the next, trying to sort out distribution-chain problems or placate angry customers. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 As in Hallmark’s typical straight-couple movies, the actors still wear preppy clothing, flit through kitschy winter settings, and exude small-town vibes. Haley Strack, National Review, 25 Dec. 2023 Arteta, who looked to be covering as much ground as his players while flitting around his technical area and shouting instructions, was indignant after the decision and was shown a yellow card for his protests. Matias Grez, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 There, flitting between the trees, is a humanoid creature with a plasma cannon and an invisibility cloak that proves more formidable than any guerilla grunt. EW.com, 13 Nov. 2023 Elsewhere, discreet and attentive staff tend to guests’ every whim, while guests flit between the Guerlain Spa, The Plaza Hotel Fitness Center, and The Plaza Boutique—a homage to its Fifth Avenue location. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 12 Feb. 2024 Hisaishi’s music here is like a big beautiful bird puffing out its chest as much as any other character, apt for a film that must balance the usually strict rules of a Miyazaki universe with the intentionally flitting nature of a story about herons, canaries, and pelicans. Vulture, 24 Jan. 2024

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 19 Apr. 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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