verb
Uncommon
fling
FLIHNG
Fling (verb) means to throw something suddenly and with force. Example: “He flung his bag onto the bed and collapsed beside it.”
verb
1
To throw something suddenly and with force.
"He flung his bag onto the bed and collapsed beside it."
noun
1
A brief, casual romantic or sexual relationship.
"It was never serious, just a summer fling."
2
A short period of enthusiastic, unrestrained enjoyment.
"She had one last fling before settling into married life."
How to use fling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo throw something forcefully, or (as a noun) a brief romance or a short burst of carefree fun.
Common pairings
fling open the door
summer fling
have a fling
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Word forms
- Plural
- flings
- Third person singular
- flings
- Past tense
- flung, flang, flinged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was never serious, just a summer _____.
Etymology
From Middle English fling, likely related to Old Norse words describing quick, forceful movement.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fling
See all rhymes for fling →Frequently asked questions
What does “fling” mean?
The word “fling” means to throw something suddenly and with force. In plain terms, to throw something forcefully, or (as a noun) a brief romance or a short burst of carefree fun.
How do you pronounce “fling”?
“Fling” is pronounced FLIHNG (/ˈflɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fling” in a sentence?
Here is “fling” used in a sentence: “It was never serious, just a summer fling.”
What part of speech is “fling”?
Depending on how it is used, “fling” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “fling” come from?
The word “fling” comes from Middle English. From Middle English fling, likely related to Old Norse words describing quick, forceful movement.
Is “fling” a common word?
“Fling” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fling” have?
“Fling” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to throw something suddenly and with force.
