# flung

/ˈfɫəŋ/ (US) · /flˈʌŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flung
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

the past tense of fling. It means you threw something with a lot of force or in a careless way.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'fling'; refers to the act of throwing or moving something with sudden force or abandon.

## Examples

- He flung his keys onto the table and sat down.
- The storm was so powerful that it flung heavy branches across the road, blocking traffic for hours.
- In a sudden burst of frustration, she flung the window open to let the cold air clear the tension from the room.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He flinged the ball" but "He flung the ball" — Fling is an irregular verb; the past tense is 'flung', not 'flinged'.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object; it is the irregular past form of 'fling'.

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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.