English Reference

Word

flared

US/ˈfɫɛɹd/

UK/flˈeəd/

Definition

adj. becoming wider at one end. You often use this to describe clothes, like trousers, that get wider toward the bottom.

adj. widening gradually toward one end. Often used to describe garments or anatomical structures that expand in diameter from a narrower base.

Examples

“She wore flared jeans and a simple white shirt.”

“The architect designed the building with flared columns to provide better support at the base.”

“The 1970s fashion revival brought flared silhouettes back to the runways, contrasting sharply with the slim-fitting trends of the previous decade.”

Examples

simple

“She wore flared jeans and a simple white shirt.”

contextual

“The architect designed the building with flared columns to provide better support at the base.”

complex

“The 1970s fashion revival brought flared silhouettes back to the runways, contrasting sharply with the slim-fitting trends of the previous decade.”

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun. When describing clothing, it refers specifically to a cut that widens below the knee.

Real-World Examples

“He fled to Djibouti soon after the fighting first flared up between the Houthis and the government of the now-ousted President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.”
BBC News · 21 Sept 2026
“The Houthi claims come as fighting between the group and Yemen’s internationally recognised government has flared up in recent weeks.”
Al Jazeera · 7 Sept 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/flared

English Reference