flirt
1 of 2verb
ˈflərt 
flirted; flirting; flirts
intransitive verb
1
: to move erratically : flit
butterflies flirting among the flowers
2
a
: to behave amorously without serious intent
He flirts with every attractive woman he meets.
b
: to show superficial or casual interest or liking
flirted with the idea
also : experiment
a novelist flirting with poetry
3
: to come close to reaching or experiencing something —used with with
flirting with disaster
transitive verb
1
: flick
They flirt water at each other's faces.
2
: to move in a jerky manner
a bird flirting its tail
flirtation
ˌflər-ˈtā-shən
noun flirter noun
flirty
ˈflər-tē
adjective flirt
2 of 2noun
1
: an act or instance of flirting
2
: a person who flirts
Synonyms
Verb
- coquet
- coquette
- dally
- frivol
- mess around
- toy
- trifle
Noun
- flirter
- wanton
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb They were flirting all night. the servers at that restaurant flirt with all the customers Noun he's just a harmless flirt, so don't take him seriously
Recent Examples on the Web
Payton Major And Monica Garrett, CNN, 27 July 2022 Some Asian nations began to flirt with closer cooperation with China, wondering if America could, or would, really have their back. James Pindell, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2022 Rogan repeatedly downplayed the need for coronavirus vaccines and used his platform to flirt with misinformation about covid-19. Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 6 July 2022 That creative abandon is evident in the delicious way the pieces flirt with havoc, but the love and patience in Sumu’s handwork keep them whole. Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 Many of them, think Killing Zoe, The Boondock Saints or Suicide Kings, flirt with ironic detachment, missing that Tarantino’s crime flicks are dramas featuring funny characters rather than outright comedies. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 4 Aug. 2022 In the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt and how to love your mom. Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Aug. 2022 In the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable thirteen-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt and how to love your mom. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Aug. 2022 But even Pence’s allies flirt with election conspiracy theories. Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2022 April White, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2022 Between the goddess and her nymphs, bathing in the sacred grotto, lives the premise of chastity even as the nymphs flirt in their eloquent poses. Claudia Rankine, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 Kevin, who shows more academic potential than his pals and likes to flirt, lives with his mother, Nina, her wife, Dre, and his sister, Keisha. Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2022 The two flirt over popsicles and steal kisses during late-night heart-to-hearts, while her lawyer fiancé (Raúl Castillo) is away. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 17 June 2022 Capitalize on that Essex charm, and flirt… with everyone. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 3 June 2022 West Elm staples flirt with antique collector's items, like Jackie O.'s childhood side chair. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 31 May 2022 Adults flirt, couples kiss, and two women are expecting a baby and planning to get married. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 20 May 2022 His party-boy energy borders on the maniacal, and his club-ready rhythms flirt with the bizarre. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2022 See More
Verb
The intense heat will stick around until at least the weekend, as Portland is forecast to flirt with triple digits through Saturday. Payton Major And Monica Garrett, CNN, 27 July 2022 Some Asian nations began to flirt with closer cooperation with China, wondering if America could, or would, really have their back. James Pindell, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2022 Rogan repeatedly downplayed the need for coronavirus vaccines and used his platform to flirt with misinformation about covid-19. Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 6 July 2022 That creative abandon is evident in the delicious way the pieces flirt with havoc, but the love and patience in Sumu’s handwork keep them whole. Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 Many of them, think Killing Zoe, The Boondock Saints or Suicide Kings, flirt with ironic detachment, missing that Tarantino’s crime flicks are dramas featuring funny characters rather than outright comedies. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 4 Aug. 2022 In the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt and how to love your mom. Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Aug. 2022 In the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable thirteen-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt and how to love your mom. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Aug. 2022 But even Pence’s allies flirt with election conspiracy theories. Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2022 Noun
Charles thought Kate to be a shameless flirt; Kate thought Charles to be extravagantly jealous. April White, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2022 Between the goddess and her nymphs, bathing in the sacred grotto, lives the premise of chastity even as the nymphs flirt in their eloquent poses. Claudia Rankine, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 Kevin, who shows more academic potential than his pals and likes to flirt, lives with his mother, Nina, her wife, Dre, and his sister, Keisha. Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2022 The two flirt over popsicles and steal kisses during late-night heart-to-hearts, while her lawyer fiancé (Raúl Castillo) is away. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 17 June 2022 Capitalize on that Essex charm, and flirt… with everyone. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 3 June 2022 West Elm staples flirt with antique collector's items, like Jackie O.'s childhood side chair. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 31 May 2022 Adults flirt, couples kiss, and two women are expecting a baby and planning to get married. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 20 May 2022 His party-boy energy borders on the maniacal, and his club-ready rhythms flirt with the bizarre. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
origin unknown
First Known Use
Verb
1580, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
circa 1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
flirt 1 of 2
verb
ˈflərt
flirted; flirting
: to show a romantic interest in someone just for fun
flirt
2 of 2noun
: a person who flirts a lot
flirt 1 of 2
noun
as in flirter
a person who playfully shows another amorous attention he's just a harmless flirt, so don't take him seriously Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- flirter
- wanton
- coquette
- coquet
- vamp
- soubrette
- jade
flirt
2 of 2verb
1
as in to coquette
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun the servers at that restaurant flirt with all the customers Synonyms & Similar Words
- coquette
- tease
- coquet
- fool
- toy
- trifle
- woo
- kid
- vamp
- razz
- dally
- mess around
- court
- frivol
- rib
- mash
- manipulate
- lead on
- josh
- string along
- put on
- play (with)
2
as in to flit
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements lazily watched the butterflies flirting among the wildflowers Synonyms & Similar Words
- flit
- dance
- dart
- flutter
- flick
- fly
- scurry
- zip
- flicker
- flitter
- wander
- sail
- speed
- scuttle
- roam
- sprint
- zing
- skip
- scamper
- zoom
- skitter
- meander
- scud
- shoot
- dash
- ramble
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hang
- float
- hover
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of flirt are coquet, dally, toy, and trifle. While all these words mean "to deal with or act toward without serious purpose," flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object.
flirted with one fashionable ism after another
In some situations, the words coquet and flirt are roughly equivalent. However, coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention.
companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations
The synonyms dally and flirt are sometimes interchangeable, but dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement.
dallying with the idea of building a boat someday
Although the words toy and flirt have much in common, toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers.
a political novice toying with great issues
The meanings of trifle and flirt largely overlap; however, trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt.
to trifle with a lover's feelings
Phrases Containing flirt
- made mast
- made much of
- made of
- made of money
- made off
- made off with
- made one's flesh creep
- made one's mark
- made out
- made over
- made port
- made sail
- made shift
- made sport of
- made the grade
- made tracks
- made up
- made up (for)
- made up for
- made use of
- made way
- made-beaver
- made-to-measure
- made-to-order
- made-up