flitter

1 of 2

verb

flit·​ter ˈfli-tər How to pronounce flitter (audio)
flittered; flittering; flitters

flitter

2 of 2

noun

: one that flits

Examples of flitter in a Sentence

Verb the birds flittered back and forth between the backyard feeder and the safety of the trees
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
My eyes gleefully flittered among the many gilded furnishings, opulent light fixtures, and damask wall treatments. Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Dec. 2024 The unexpected sight of the little orange carp flittering around in a glorified puddle was everywhere, a social-media must-post, a Walden surrounded by concrete at a corner known as the Bed-Stuy Aquarium. The Editors, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2024 Where India Song’s Anna-Marie and her various colonial suitors move languidly and speechlessly through the chateau like ghosts, Jeanne Dielman is continually flittering between the chores of cooking, cleaning, and errand-running. Erik Morse, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024 These flittering finches are adaptable and have learned to live in cities, towns and farmland. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2024 Western tanagers escort rafters downstream — yellow flashes flittering from juniper to juniper. Pete Zimowsky, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 Through its evolution, the term seems to flitter between abstract and concrete. Leo Kim, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2023 As Francis prayed before a statue of the Madonna, nearby wildfires turned the sky smoky black and sent ash flittering down on the crowd. Nicole Winfield, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2023 The audience’s fists pumped and their shouts filled the air as bright red lasers flittered across the arena. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 22 June 2023
Noun
Still, before that vista can rightly command your attention, your eyes will first flitter among the many wonders inside—from the handsome vignettes of vintage and bespoke furnishings that fill every corner of the home to the eclectic artworks that cover the walls in dense, salon-style arrangements. Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2024 Only fountains, flitter sparklers and ground spinners are permitted. Austindedios, oregonlive, 4 July 2023 Shadows flitter across the water. Carson Vaughan, Outside Online, 27 Jan. 2020 Physics contains equations that describe everything from the stretching of space-time to the flitter of photons. Quanta Magazine, 16 Jan. 2018 More than 1,000 butterflies flitter among a natural-rock waterfall, palms, and even orchids. Patrick Sisson, Curbed, 12 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

Verb

frequentative of flit

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1554, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flitter was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near flitter

Cite this Entry

“Flitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flitter. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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