# flirt

/ˈfɫɝt/ (US) · /flˈɜːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flirt
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. playful romantic behavior

verb · CEFR B1

to act in a playful way that shows you are romantically interested in someone, often just for fun.

For teachers: to behave as though sexually attracted to someone, but typically in a playful or superficial manner rather than with serious intent.

- He was flirting with the waitress, but she just wanted to take his order.
- Although they were clearly flirting throughout the evening, neither party seemed inclined to pursue a more formal engagement.

### 2. to consider an idea

verb · CEFR B2

to think about an idea or a plan for a short time without being very serious about it.

For teachers: to experiment with or show a superficial interest in an idea, project, or possibility. Often takes the preposition 'with'.

- The company is flirting with the idea of opening a new office in Paris.
- The administration has flirted with various tax reforms over the last decade, though none have progressed beyond the initial planning stages.

### 3. a person who flirts

noun · CEFR B2

a person who enjoys behaving in a playful, romantic way with others.

For teachers: a person who habitually or characteristically engages in flirtatious behavior.

- Don't take his compliments too seriously; he is a well-known flirt.
- She gained a reputation as a harmless flirt, though her colleagues knew she was deeply devoted to her long-term partner.

### 4. to move quickly

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to move or wave something with a quick, sudden motion.

For teachers: to move something with a sudden jerk or a quick, darting motion. Often used of birds or small animals moving their tails.

- The small bird flirted its tail as it hopped along the garden fence.
- The fan was flirted open with a sharp snap, momentarily obscuring the duchess's expression from the rest of the ballroom.

## Examples

- They like to flirt with each other during their lunch break.
- He didn't realize she was trying to flirt with him until she asked for his phone number.
- While some people flirt naturally as a way of being friendly, others find the subtle social cues of romantic interest difficult to interpret correctly.

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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.