1
a
: the soft parts of the body of an animal and especially of a vertebrate
especially
: the parts composed chiefly of skeletal muscle as distinguished from internal organs, bone, and integument
b
: the condition of having ample fat on the body
cattle in good flesh
c
: skin
2
a
: edible parts of an animal
b
: flesh of a mammal or fowl eaten as food
3
a
: the physical nature of human beings
the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak—
Matthew 26:41 (King James Version)
Matthew 26:41 (King James Version)
b
5
: a fleshy plant part used as food
also
: the fleshy part of a fruit
6
Christian Science
: an illusion that matter has sensation
7
: facts or details that provide substance to something
Her careful documentation puts the necessary flesh on much that has been merely speculation …—John H. Crook
John H. Crook
fleshed; fleshing; fleshes
1
: to initiate or habituate especially by giving a foretaste
2
archaic
: gratify
3
a
: to clothe or cover with or as if with flesh
broadly
: to give substance to
—usually used with out
flesh out a plan
b
: to make fuller or more nearly complete
—used with out
museums fleshing out their collections with borrowed works
4
: to free from flesh
: to become fleshy
—often used with up or out
Synonyms
Examples of flesh in a Sentence
Noun
the flabby white flesh of his belly
a disease that causes sores on the flesh
Verb
a lengthy follow-up that fleshes out the original report on the military engagement
Recent Examples on the Web
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024
The flesh is dead, but the mind lives on in a character called The Wheel of Fate.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
H. Alan Scott, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Absent palatable options from the Pentagon, the White House may be inclined to develop its own and insist that Mattis and Dunford flesh them out.
—Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2018
See all Example Sentences for flesh 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Vultures are large, daytime (diurnal) raptors that primarily feed on the decaying flesh of dead animals, known as carrion.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024
The flesh is dead, but the mind lives on in a character called The Wheel of Fate.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
And that's been the luxury of this experience, is doing all the hard work to create the character for the pilot and really flesh her out.
—H. Alan Scott, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Absent palatable options from the Pentagon, the White House may be inclined to develop its own and insist that Mattis and Dunford flesh them out.
—Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2018
See all Example Sentences for flesh
Dictionary Entries Near flesh
Cite this Entry
“Flesh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flesh. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flesh
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the soft parts of the body of an animal and especially the muscular parts
b
: sleek plump condition of body
cattle in good flesh
2
: parts of an animal used as food
3
: the physical being of a person as distinguished from the soul
4
: a fleshy plant part (as the pulp of a fruit)
fleshed
adjective
ˈflesht
flesh
2 of 2 verb
: to make more complete by adding details
flesh out a story
Medical Definition
flesh
noun
: the soft parts of the body of an animal and especially of a vertebrate
especially
: the parts composed chiefly of skeletal muscle as distinguished from visceral structures, bone, and integuments see goose bumps, proud flesh
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share