Word
flounder
Phoneticsfloun·der, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɫaʊndɝ/
UK/flˈaʊndɐ/
Definitions
01to struggle or have difficulty
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to have a lot of trouble doing something or to act in a confused way.
v. to struggle or proceed clumsily; to experience great difficulty or be in a state of confusion.
“The student began to flounder when the teacher asked a very difficult question.”
“Without a clear strategy, the new startup began to flounder within months of its initial product launch.”
02to move clumsily
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to move your body in a clumsy way, like someone trying to walk through deep mud.
v. to make clumsy, struggling movements, especially in water, mud, or snow.
“He was floundering in the deep snow, trying to reach the cabin door.”
“The horses were floundering through the marshy ground, their hooves sinking deep into the thick black mud.”
Synonyms
03a type of fish
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a flat fish that lives in the ocean and is often used for food.
n. any of various marine flatfish, typically of the families Pleuronectidae or Bothidae, valued as food.
“We had grilled flounder and fresh vegetables for dinner at the seaside restaurant.”
“Commercial fishermen in the North Atlantic often target flounder due to its high market demand and delicate flavour.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Whenever the detectives are floundering, the over-directed script is always on hand to put them back on the rails.” “Former Google employees have posted scathing articles arguing that the company is floundering.” Etymology
From Middle English flowndre, from Anglo-Norman floundre, from Old Northern French flondre, from Old Norse flyðra, from Proto-Germanic *flunþrijǭ. Cognate with Danish flynder, German Flunder, Swedish flundra.
Possibly from the noun. Probably a blend of flounce + founder or a blend of founder + blunder or from Dutch flodderen (“wade”). See other terms beginning with fl, such as flutter, flitter, float, flap, flub, flip.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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