# flanked

/ˈfɫæŋkt/ (US) · /flˈæŋkt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flanked
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

having something or someone on both sides of you.

For teachers: positioned with people or objects on either side. Often used in the passive voice or as a participial adjective to describe a central subject's surroundings.

## Examples

- The president walked out flanked by his bodyguards.
- The narrow mountain pass was flanked by steep cliffs that made the journey feel quite dangerous.
- The grand entrance to the museum is flanked by two massive marble lions, which have stood as silent guardians of the collection for over a century.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb or appears in a passive construction with 'by'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.