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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

flung past tense, flang past tense, flinged past tense, flings plural, Flings plural, flings singular

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It was never serious, just a summer _____.

Etymology

From Middle English fling, likely related to Old Norse words describing quick, forceful movement.

Origin: Middle English

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial