Flicker
verb
To shine with an unsteady or weak light, or only for a short time.
The candlelight started to flicker before it went out completely.
Often appears as...
- flicker on
- flicker off
verb
To appear or be seen quickly or for a short time, or to make a sudden movement.
A smile flickered across her face.
Often appears as...
- flicker across
- flicker of emotion
noun
A quick and unsteady light, or a weak flame that does not burn continuously.
The room was lit by the flicker of the fire in the hearth.
Often appears as...
- flicker of candlelight
- flicker of hope
noun
A type of small bird that is common in America.
We saw a yellow-shafted flicker in the backyard.
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To shine with an unsteady or weak light, or only for a short time.
The candlelight started to flicker before it went out completely.
Often appears as...
- flicker on
- flicker off
verb
To appear or be seen quickly or for a short time, or to make a sudden movement.
A smile flickered across her face.
Often appears as...
- flicker across
- flicker of emotion
noun
A quick and unsteady light, or a weak flame that does not burn continuously.
The room was lit by the flicker of the fire in the hearth.
Often appears as...
- flicker of candlelight
- flicker of hope
noun
A type of small bird that is common in America.
We saw a yellow-shafted flicker in the backyard.
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Unreliable Light
Use 'flicker' for lights that are unpredictable and don't stay constant
The lights began to flicker during the storm.
Pro Tip 2/3Imminent Change
'Flicker' often implies a light is about to change, often going out or being unstable.
The old TV's image flickered before turning to static.
Pro Tip 3/3Sign of Life
A 'flicker' of something can suggest a small, barely noticeable sign of it.
There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes.
Pro Tip 1/3Unreliable Light
Use 'flicker' for lights that are unpredictable and don't stay constant
The lights began to flicker during the storm.
Pro Tip 2/3Imminent Change
'Flicker' often implies a light is about to change, often going out or being unstable.
The old TV's image flickered before turning to static.
Pro Tip 3/3Sign of Life
A 'flicker' of something can suggest a small, barely noticeable sign of it.
There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes.
Pro Tip 1/3Unreliable Light
Use 'flicker' for lights that are unpredictable and don't stay constant
The lights began to flicker during the storm.
Pro Tip 2/3Imminent Change
'Flicker' often implies a light is about to change, often going out or being unstable.
The old TV's image flickered before turning to static.
Pro Tip 3/3Sign of Life
A 'flicker' of something can suggest a small, barely noticeable sign of it.
There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes.
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Video examples
Four reasons you should...
brain events news events are just things happening flickering on the world surface but to make better decisions you want to understand what drives these events or generates these events and new stories don't tell you that news give you the illusion of understanding and that illusion is dangerous I came to
Video examples
Can Nature Make Us...
how natural environments can help us recover from stressful fatigue is by using attention restoration theory and this invokes this wonderful idea of soft fascination so something like watching waves breaking on a beach or sunlight flickering through the leaves in a forest
Video examples
Why are these 32 symbols...
You now walk the same path as these early artists. And in this surreal, otherworldly place, it's almost possible to imagine that you hear the muffled footfall of skin boots on soft earth, or that you see the flickering of a torch around the next bend. When I'm in a cave,
Video examples
Is fire a solid, a...
it burns your eyes and stings your nostrils. You could stare at the bright flames forever as they twist and flicker in endless incarnations. But what exactly are you looking at? The flames are obviously not solid, nor are they liquid.
Video examples
Zoo Quest For A Dragon...
his long sticky tongue flickering over the branches gathering the ants which swarmed everywhere not a particularly pleasant meal one would have thought but at least his hard scaly coat protects him from the worst of the his stings
Video examples
Why are we so attached...
their brains showed more activity in a region that usually flickers into life whenever we think about ourselves. Another reason we're so fond of our possessions is that from a young age we believe they have a unique essence.
Video examples
Can you solve the jail...
The moment the first burns out, you light the other end of the second fuse. When it flickers and dies, you know that exactly 45 seconds have passed, and the electric fence is dead. By the time it hiccups back to life,
Video examples
Run, sail, or hide? How...
but buildings are ablaze in the hot, sulfurous air. Lucius climbs out of his closet and tries his front door, but a deep blanket of ash and stone won’t let it budge. His lamp flickers and dies.
Video examples
Could These Distant...
you'd see our sun flicker and fade away forever
Video examples
Living in the Age of...
flicker of time life on earth changed forever
Video examples
Four reasons you should...
brain events news events are just things happening flickering on the world surface but to make better decisions you want to understand what drives these events or generates these events and new stories don't tell you that news give you the illusion of understanding and that illusion is dangerous I came to
Video examples
Can Nature Make Us...
how natural environments can help us recover from stressful fatigue is by using attention restoration theory and this invokes this wonderful idea of soft fascination so something like watching waves breaking on a beach or sunlight flickering through the leaves in a forest
Video examples
Why are these 32 symbols...
You now walk the same path as these early artists. And in this surreal, otherworldly place, it's almost possible to imagine that you hear the muffled footfall of skin boots on soft earth, or that you see the flickering of a torch around the next bend. When I'm in a cave,
Video examples
Is fire a solid, a...
it burns your eyes and stings your nostrils. You could stare at the bright flames forever as they twist and flicker in endless incarnations. But what exactly are you looking at? The flames are obviously not solid, nor are they liquid.
Video examples
Zoo Quest For A Dragon...
his long sticky tongue flickering over the branches gathering the ants which swarmed everywhere not a particularly pleasant meal one would have thought but at least his hard scaly coat protects him from the worst of the his stings
Video examples
Why are we so attached...
their brains showed more activity in a region that usually flickers into life whenever we think about ourselves. Another reason we're so fond of our possessions is that from a young age we believe they have a unique essence.
Video examples
Can you solve the jail...
The moment the first burns out, you light the other end of the second fuse. When it flickers and dies, you know that exactly 45 seconds have passed, and the electric fence is dead. By the time it hiccups back to life,
Video examples
Run, sail, or hide? How...
but buildings are ablaze in the hot, sulfurous air. Lucius climbs out of his closet and tries his front door, but a deep blanket of ash and stone won’t let it budge. His lamp flickers and dies.
Video examples
Could These Distant...
you'd see our sun flicker and fade away forever
Video examples
Living in the Age of...
flicker of time life on earth changed forever
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
George R. R. Martin
American Author
The odd thing about being a writer is you do tend to lose yourself in your books. Sometimes it seems like real life is flickering by and you're hardly a part of it. You remember the events in your books better than you remember the events that actually took place when you were writing them.
Quote examples
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
French Writer
Transport of the mails, transport of the human voice, transport of flickering pictures-in this century as in others our highest accomplishments still have the single aim of bringing men together.
Quote examples
Malorie Blackman
British Writer
Teenagers are some of the most passionate, dynamic and creative people I know. Yet, too often, this creative spark is left to flicker precariously and sometimes fade entirely.
Quote examples
Eugenio Montale
Italian Poet
Happiness, for you we walk on a knife edge. To the eyes you are a flickering light, to the feet, thin ice that cracks; and so may no one touch you who loves you.
Quote examples
Claire Tomalin
English Author
Today's children have very short attention spans because they are being reared on dreadful television programmes which are flickering away in the corner.
Quote examples
Mordecai Richler
Canadian Novelist
Fundamentally, all writing is about the same thing; it's about dying, about the brief flicker of time we have here, and the frustration that it creates.
Quote examples
E. M. Forster
English Novelist
At night, when the curtains are drawn and the fire flickers, my books attain a collective dignity.
Quote examples
Sandeep Singh
Indian Athlete
I never think that I'm the best flicker, but I practice to learn new things every day.
Quote examples
Frank Deford
American Writer
She glances at the photo, and the pilot light of memory flickers in her eyes.
Quote examples
Ken Burns
American Director
The flame is not out, but it is flickering.
Quote examples
George R. R. Martin
American Author
The odd thing about being a writer is you do tend to lose yourself in your books. Sometimes it seems like real life is flickering by and you're hardly a part of it. You remember the events in your books better than you remember the events that actually took place when you were writing them.
Quote examples
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
French Writer
Transport of the mails, transport of the human voice, transport of flickering pictures-in this century as in others our highest accomplishments still have the single aim of bringing men together.
Quote examples
Malorie Blackman
British Writer
Teenagers are some of the most passionate, dynamic and creative people I know. Yet, too often, this creative spark is left to flicker precariously and sometimes fade entirely.
Quote examples
Eugenio Montale
Italian Poet
Happiness, for you we walk on a knife edge. To the eyes you are a flickering light, to the feet, thin ice that cracks; and so may no one touch you who loves you.
Quote examples
Claire Tomalin
English Author
Today's children have very short attention spans because they are being reared on dreadful television programmes which are flickering away in the corner.
Quote examples
Mordecai Richler
Canadian Novelist
Fundamentally, all writing is about the same thing; it's about dying, about the brief flicker of time we have here, and the frustration that it creates.
Quote examples
E. M. Forster
English Novelist
At night, when the curtains are drawn and the fire flickers, my books attain a collective dignity.
Quote examples
Sandeep Singh
Indian Athlete
I never think that I'm the best flicker, but I practice to learn new things every day.
Quote examples
Frank Deford
American Writer
She glances at the photo, and the pilot light of memory flickers in her eyes.
Quote examples
Ken Burns
American Director
The flame is not out, but it is flickering.
Example 1 of 10
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