English Meaning & Definitions
The behavior of subtly showing romantic or sexual attraction to someone without serious intent.
- “Their playful conversation quickly turned into heavy flirting across the table.”
- “She couldn't tell if his compliments were sincere or just harmless flirting.”
Behaving as though attracted to someone, playfully or superficially.
- “He was flirting with the waitress, much to his girlfriend's annoyance.”
- “They spent the entire evening smiling and flirting at the party.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “flirting”.
Derived from the verb 'flirt', which first appeared in English in the mid-16th century meaning 'to sneer' or 'to jerk/fling'. By the 18th century, the sense evolved in British English to mean making romantic or playful overtures without serious intent, possibly originating as an imitative or expressive formation suggesting a sudden, light movement.
Think of 'fluttering' your eyelashes—flirting is when you playfully flutter your attention toward someone you're attracted to.
Frequently Asked Questions About “flirting”
1. What is the meaning of “flirting” in English?
In English, flirting (noun) is defined as: “The behavior of subtly showing romantic or sexual attraction to someone without serious intent.”.
2. How do you use “flirting” in a sentence?
“Their playful conversation quickly turned into heavy flirting across the table.”
3. What are English synonyms of “flirting”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “flirting”?
Derived from the verb 'flirt', which first appeared in English in the mid-16th century meaning 'to sneer' or 'to jerk/fling'. By the 18th century, the sense evolved in British English to mean making romantic or playful overtures without serious intent, possibly originating as an imitative or expressive formation suggesting a sudden, light movement.
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