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to flicker

to flicker

60 3.6
Move or shine in quick unsteady ways
  • verb
  • /ˈflɪkər/
translation icon : parpadear
  • Electric luminarios lined the stage and flickered in red and green on the dance floor.
  • flickering light
  • flickering candle
  • flickering flame

She'd come back from a hard day's work, see all the lights flicker and die.

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Examples

  • During the storm, the lights flickered before going out completely.

  • I was somewhat happy this morning; a little joy flickered through me, but it did not last long.

    Academic text (1998)
  • So you can flicker between on and off, let's say for green, or you can flicker between red and green.

  • The light flickered on and off.

  • Alarm or no alarm, the lights flickered and went out.

  • A strange bright light came through the barred window and flickered on the empty beds.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Well, I was standing on the ladder fixing a lightbulb that was flickering and driving me crazy.

  • The lights were dim; candles flickered in red goblets covered with plastic fish net.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The candle began to flicker as the wind blew through the open window.

  • As the movie started, the projector light began to flicker, capturing everyone's attention.

Synonyms

to flash
vsto flicker
89 1.0

To give a sudden short bright light

is about quick small unsteady movements, not a single sudden burst
to shimmer
vsto flicker
51 4.3

To shine with a soft, slightly moving light

is quicker and more abrupt rather than soft wavering light
to blink
vsto flicker
49 2.0

To flash on and off quickly like a light

shows small unsteady changes rather than strict on and off flashes
to quiver
vsto flicker
47 4.5

To shake in small, quick movements because of fear, cold, or excitement

is about brief unsteady light or motion rather than bodily trembling
to flame
vsto flicker
34 1.7

To burn or shine with a bright, hot light

is less intense and focuses on quick, small unsteady shining
to twinkle
vsto flicker
26 1.5

To shine with small quick flashes of light, often in eyes or stars

focuses more on small, unsteady motion rather than lively sparkle
to sparkle
vsto flicker
26 1.0

To shine with small bright flashes of light

is subtler and focuses on small, quick unsteady movements rather than bright glitter
to flare
vsto flicker
18 4.2

To burn or shine with a sudden bright light

is smaller and less intense, focusing on tiny unsteady movements
to wink
vsto flicker
13 2.5

To shine on and off quickly like a small light

is more about small, unsteady movement of light rather than deliberate blinking
to waver
vsto flicker
12 4.8

To move or shake in a slight, unsteady way

applies more to light or tiny movements rather than broader swaying motion
to glimmer
vsto flicker
12 3.9

To shine with a weak, unsteady light

is quicker and smaller in movement or light than faint shining
to flick
vsto flicker
  • UK
11 3.7

To go on and off quickly as a light or screen

is the same meaning but appears as the alternate simple form
to blip
vsto flicker
3 4.9

To appear briefly on a screen or device

is about ongoing small unsteady movement rather than a single brief appearance
to strobe
vsto flicker
2 5.4

To flash on and off quickly

is less regular and more natural in its small unsteady motion
to twire
vsto flicker
  • Archaic
9.9

To shine with a small quick flicker of light

is the more general term for quick, small unsteady light or movement

Antonyms

41 3.4

To make yourself or something stop moving

Compounds

A small, brief feeling that things may get better

A large woodpecker from the southwestern United States without a red neck

red-shafted flicker
  • Specialized
9.2

A large woodpecker with red feathers under its wings and on its tail that lives in the western United States

A large woodpecker with yellow feathers under its wings and tail and a red patch on its neck

How Unsteady

to flare
18 4.2
to flicker
60 3.6
to shimmer
51 4.3
to glow
161 1.2

Surface Forms

flicker infinitive
flickered past
flickered past participle
flickering present participle
flickers third person singular

Morphology

flicker = flick (transparent) = flick + er

The verb is a regular formation from 'flick' with -er indicating repeated/ongoing small movements; the meaning is predictable from the base.

Etymology

Flicker comes from the short verb flick, which means a quick, light movement. So when a flame or light moves in quick, small, unsteady ways, we say it 'flickers'.