verb
Uncommon
flex
flehks
Flex (verb) means to bend a joint or tighten a muscle, often to show strength. Example: “He flexed his biceps for the camera.”
verb
1
To bend a joint or tighten a muscle, often to show strength.
"He flexed his biceps for the camera."
"Stretch and flex your fingers before you start typing."
"The gymnast paused to flex her knee gently before the next jump."
2
To show off or boast, often about wealth, status, or ability (informal).
"She loves to flex her new car on social media."
"Stop trying to flex about your holiday in front of everyone."
"He only posted the photo to flex, not to share anything useful."
noun
1
A flexible insulated electrical cord or cable (chiefly British).
"Mind the flex trailing across the kitchen floor."
"The vacuum cleaner's flex was too short to reach the landing."
"Replace the frayed flex on that lamp before somebody gets hurt."
2
An instance of boasting or showing off (informal).
"Buying that watch was pure flex."
"Wearing sunglasses indoors was a bit of a flex, wasn't it?"
"That speech was just a flex to impress the new manager."
How to use flex
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally, to bend or tighten a muscle; in slang, to show off something impressive.
When to use it
The "show off" sense of flex is informal slang, common in casual speech and social media, not formal writing.
UK vs US
In British English "flex" as a noun commonly means an electrical cord; Americans usually say "cord" or "cable" instead.
Common pairings
flex your muscles
flex on someone
flexible schedule
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Word forms
- Plural
- flexes
- Third person singular
- flexes
- Past tense
- flexed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ his biceps for the camera.
Etymology
From Latin flexus, the past participle of flectere ("to bend").
Related words
Rhymes for flex
See all rhymes for flex →Frequently asked questions
What does “flex” mean?
The word “flex” means to bend a joint or tighten a muscle, often to show strength. In plain terms, literally, to bend or tighten a muscle; in slang, to show off something impressive.
How do you pronounce “flex”?
“Flex” is pronounced flehks (/flɛks/ in IPA).
How do you use “flex” in a sentence?
Here is “flex” used in a sentence: “He flexed his biceps for the camera.”
What part of speech is “flex”?
Depending on how it is used, “flex” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “flex” come from?
The word “flex” comes from Latin. From Latin flexus, the past participle of flectere ("to bend").
Is “flex” a common word?
“Flex” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “flex” have?
“Flex” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bend a joint or tighten a muscle, often to show strength.
What is the difference between flex meaning to bend a muscle and flex meaning to boast?
The original sense of flex refers to physically bending a joint or tightening a muscle, often to show strength, such as flexing a bicep. The informal, figurative sense means to show off or boast about wealth, status, or ability, extending the idea of visibly displaying strength to displaying success or possessions.
Is flex meaning to show off formal or informal?
Flex meaning to show off or boast is informal slang, common in casual speech and social media, and would not be appropriate in formal writing or professional communication.
What does 'a flex' mean as a noun in slang?
As an informal noun, a flex refers to an instance of boasting or showing off, often about wealth, status, or achievement, as in 'buying that car was a real flex.'
What does flex mean in British electrical usage?
In chiefly British usage, a flex is a flexible insulated electrical cord or cable, such as the flex connecting a lamp or appliance to a power socket, distinct from the fitness or boasting senses.
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