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💡 A flashing light ⚡ To flash rapidly 💄 To add highlighter
to strobe

to strobe

2 5.4
To flash on and off quickly
  • verb
  • /stroʊb/
translation icon : parpadear
  • The stage lights began to strobe in sync with the music, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
  • strobe light
  • strobe lightning
  • strobe the room

One second shouldn't be strobing anymore, better not be.

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Examples

  • Suddenly the room's dimensions are there in frantic, strobing shadows.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Reveal Neil jumping a fence and running across the grass between power units and the racks of lights strobing their arrow sequence at the head of the runway.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • You can play music with it, you can make it strobe, you can make it have an amazing time.

  • We see more detail than before, but it seems to strobe away from us.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Bright lights strobe the length of the place, thrusting us several minutes into the future.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The light from the projector is strobing off the ceiling of the little room where we sit.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • There are large electrical insulators on the fences, warning lights that strobe importantly, and clear signs.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • An amber light strobed.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The noise made him glance that way, and he noticed the silent sight of a slow freight train going by, a single yard light strobing on each boxcar as it passed.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The dark metal walls of high-rise buildings boxed them in, multicolored lights strobed the night, and a dozen people dressed in space armor turned in their direction.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

to flash
vsto strobe
89 1.0

To give a sudden short bright light

is repeated rapid on and off flashing rather than a single brief burst
to flicker
vsto strobe
60 3.6

Move or shine in quick unsteady ways

is clear on and off rapid flashing rather than an unstable glow
to blink
vsto strobe
49 2.0

To flash on and off quickly like a light

is faster and more deliberate rapid flashing used for visual effects
to wink
vsto strobe
13 2.5

To shine on and off quickly like a small light

is more even and very rapid, used for visual effects
to flick
vsto strobe
  • UK
11 3.7

To go on and off quickly as a light or screen

is a steadier and more rapid flashing designed for dramatic effects
to blip
vsto strobe
3 4.9

To appear briefly on a screen or device

is repeated rapid on and off flashing not a single brief appearance

Compounds

strobe light
  • Specialized
6 3.7

A light that flashes quickly and regularly to make visual effects

How Fast

to strobe
2 5.4
to pulse
  • Specialized
12 8.2
to flash
89 1.0
to blink
49 2.0
to flicker
60 3.6

Surface Forms

strobe infinitive
strobed past
strobed past participle
strobing present participle
strobes third person singular

Etymology

Strobe as a verb comes from the name stroboscope, with the old Greek root strob- meaning 'whirl'. Because the machine matched its quick flashes to moving things, to strobe now means 'to flash on and off quickly', like a light that keeps blinking.