flush

1 of 7

verb (1)

ˈfləsh 

flushed; flushing; flushes

intransitive verb

: to fly away suddenly

transitive verb

1

: to cause (a bird) to flush

The birds were flushed out of the trees.

2

: to expose or chase from a place of concealment

flushed the boys from their hiding place

Police flushed the suspects from the building.

flush

2 of 7

noun (1)

1

: a hand of playing cards all of the same suit

specifically : a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit but not in sequence see poker illustration

2

: a series of three or more slalom gates set vertically on a slope

flush

3 of 7

noun (2)

1

: a sudden flow (as of water)

also : a rinsing or cleansing with or as if with a flush of water

2

a

: a sudden increase or expansion

especially : sudden and usually abundant new plant growth

the spring flush of grass

b

: a surge of emotion

felt a flush of anger at the insult

3

a

: a tinge of red : blush

b

: a fresh and vigorous state

in the first flush of womanhood

4

: a transitory sensation of extreme heat compare hot flash

flush

4 of 7

verb (2)

flushed; flushing; flushes

intransitive verb

1

: to flow and spread suddenly and freely

2

a

: to glow brightly

b

: blush

3

: to produce new growth

the plants flush twice during the year

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to flow

b

: to pour liquid over or through

especially : to cleanse or wash out with or as if with a rush of liquid

flush the toilet

flush the lungs with air

2

: inflame, excite

—usually used passively

flushed with pride

3

: to cause to blush

flush

5 of 7

adjective

1

a

: of a ruddy healthy color

b

: full of life and vigor : lusty

2

a

: filled to overflowing

streams flush with the spring runoff

b

informal : having a large amount of money

feeling flush

a company that's flush with cash/money

3

informal : readily available : abundant

4

a

: having or forming a continuous plane or unbroken surface

flush paneling

b

: directly abutting or immediately adjacent: such as

(1)

: set even with an edge of a type page or column : having no indention

(2)

: arranged edge to edge so as to fit snugly

flushness noun

flush

6 of 7

adverb

1

: in a flush manner

2

: squarely

hit him flush on the chin

flush

7 of 7

verb (3)

flushed; flushing; flushes

transitive verb

: to make flush

flush the headings on a page

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• bloom
• blush
• color

Verb (2)

• irrigate
• rinse
• sluice
• wash
• wash out

Adjective

• blooming
• florid
• full-blooded
• glowing
• red
• rosy
• rubicund
• ruddy
• sanguine

Examples of flush in a Sentence

Noun (2)

looked for a flush on her cheeks as evidence of a fever

was in the flush of his youth

a flush of patriotic pride

Verb (2)

use this cleaner to flush the drain in the sink

he flushed deeply upon hearing the compliment

Adjective

He just got paid and he was feeling flush.

was flushed after getting out of the hot bath

Adverb

She placed her hands flush against the door and pushed with all her might.

He hit the ball flush.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Part of the nationwide Reindeer Alley pop-up series, Prancer's Parlour features themed drinks like the Fireside Chai cocktail and spiced espresso martini with small high-end dishes served in a setting flush with Christmas décor. —Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Dec. 2024

The unofficial final flush of a season circling the drain for months came at the hands of a Steelers offense that recently broke a streak of seven consecutive quarters without scoring a touchdown. —Paul Dehner Jr., The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024

Verb

Caffeine is a stimulant and has a diuretic effect, so your morning cup of coffee may mean your vitamin C doesn't absorb as well before being flushed out. —Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 19 Dec. 2024

Every day, 4 million inhabitants of L.A. and 29 other cities — including El Segundo — flush a quarter-billion gallons of wastewater into Hyperion’s treatment tanks. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024

Adjective

In 2023, flush with SPAC cash, the company embarked on a spending spree. —Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Then, use your scrubbing brush to wipe down the tank walls, taking care not to disturb the internal parts like the fill valve and flush valve. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2024

Adverb

With the third row stowed flush into the floor, all the oversized bulky items (wheels, tires, suitcases, car jack, tools, moving blankets, etc.) fit effortlessly within the available load space. —Michael Harley, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

Then there’s the rotator stand that, combined with a wide, low-profile base, allows the bag to sit flush against the ground when the legs are fully deployed for the most-possible stability and a better club spread. —Scott Kramer, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English flusshen

Noun (1)

Middle French flus, fluz, from Latin fluxus flow, flux

Noun (2)

perhaps modification of Latin fluxus

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1548, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (3)

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing flush

• four flush
• in the (first) flush of
• royal flush
• straight flush

Kids Definition

flush

1 of 5 verb

ˈfləsh 

: to take flight or cause to take flight suddenly

flushed several quail

flush

2 of 5 noun

1

: a sudden flow (as of water)

2

: a sudden increase (as of emotion)

a flush of triumph

3

a

: blush entry 2 sense 2

b

: a fresh and vigorous state

the flush of youth

4

: a brief sensation of heat

flush

3 of 5 verb

1

: blush entry 1 sense 1

2

: to pour liquid over or through

especially : to wash out with a rush of liquid

flush a toilet

3

: inflame sense 2, excite

flushed with pride

4

: to make red or hot

flush

4 of 5 adjective

1

a

: of a healthy reddish color

b

: full of life and vigor : lusty

2

a

: filled to overflowing

b

informal : well supplied especially with money

3

a

: having an unbroken surface

flush paneling

b

: even with the neighboring surface

a river flush with the top of its bank

flushness noun

flush

5 of 5 adverb

1

: so as to be flush

2

: so as to make solid contact

a blow flush on the chin

Etymology

Verb

Middle English flusshen "to fly up suddenly"

Noun

perhaps from Latin fluxus, "flow," from fluere "to flow" — related to fluid

Medical Definition

flush

1 of 2 noun

ˈfləsh 

: a transitory sensation of extreme heat (as in response to some drugs or in some physiological states)

menopausal flushes

flush

2 of 2 intransitive verb

: to blush or become suddenly suffused with color due to vasodilation

transitive verb

: to cleanse or wash out with or as if with a rush of liquid

the newly sewn incision is flushed with saline

—Don Gold