flirt

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /flɜrt/ UK /flɜːt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to behave playfully as if attracted to someone, without serious intent

She liked to flirt with the waiters but never meant anything by it.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to behave playfully as if... dally trifle tease philandercoquettoy

Word family

Forms coquetcoquetting

Derived forms flirtationflirtyflirtatiousflirter

Etymology

Of uncertain origin, attested from the 16th century, probably imitative, originally meaning 'to flick, jerk, or move suddenly'. The romantic sense developed in the 17th century.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# flirt

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /flɜrt/
**IPA (UK):** /flɜːt/

## Meanings
1. to behave playfully as if attracted to someone, without serious intent

## Examples
- She liked to flirt with the waiters but never meant anything by it.

## Synonyms
- dally
- trifle
- tease
- philander
- coquet
- toy

## Derived Forms
- flirtation
- flirty
- flirtatious
- flirter

## Etymology
Of uncertain origin, attested from the 16th century, probably imitative, originally meaning 'to flick, jerk, or move suddenly'. The romantic sense developed in the 17th century.

## AI Etymology
Flirt is of uncertain origin, attested from the 16th century, probably imitative, originally meaning 'to flick, jerk, or move suddenly'. The romantic sense developed in the 17th century. As a verb, flirt means to behave playfully as if attracted to someone, without serious intent. The same family is visible in derived forms such as flirtation, flirty, flirtatious, and flirter. The wording should be read with that uncertainty intact: the proposed connection is plausible rather than absolute.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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