fling

1 of 2

verb

ˈfliŋ How to pronounce fling (audio)
flung ˈfləŋ How to pronounce fling (audio) ; flinging ˈfliŋ-iŋ How to pronounce fling (audio)
Synonyms of flingnext

intransitive verb

1
: to move in a brusque or headlong manner
flung out of the room in a rage
2
of an animal : to kick or plunge vigorously
3
Scotland : caper

transitive verb

1
a
: to throw forcefully, impetuously, or casually
flung herself down on the sofa
clothes were flung on the floor
b
: to cast as if by throwing
flung off all restraint
2
: to place or send suddenly and unceremoniously (see unceremonious sense 2)
was arrested and flung into prison
3
: to give unrestrainedly
flung himself into music
flinger
ˈfliŋ-ər How to pronounce fling (audio)
noun

fling

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act or instance of flinging
2
a
: a casual try or involvement
b
: a casual or brief love affair
3
: a period devoted to self-indulgence

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for fling

throw, cast, toss, fling, hurl, pitch, sling mean to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force.

throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

Examples of fling in a Sentence

Verb He flung his shoe across the room. She flung the door open and stormed into the room. They flung their hats into the air.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Mindful handling of smoking materials: Prudently discard cigarette butts and avoid flinging cigarettes or matches from a moving vehicle. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2025 Instead of randomly flinging yourself into tourist traps, do some research ahead of time. — Tonia Ryan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
There were little flings and hookups and attachments amid all of this, and the fibre of daily living, and the constants in my life which served as the filling in between. — Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025 Sure, Coop is in her 20s and capable of making her own romantic decisions… but a power imbalance is a power imbalance, and even a student-professor fling that seems mutual won’t shake out evenly in the end, especially when said student is rebounding from a long-term love. — Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fling

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse flengja to whip

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fling was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing fling

Rhymes for fling

See All Rhymes for fling

Browse Nearby Words

flindosa
fling
flinging-tree
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fling. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

fling

1 of 2 verb
ˈfliŋ How to pronounce fling (audio)
flung ˈfləŋ How to pronounce fling (audio) ; flinging ˈfliŋ-iŋ How to pronounce fling (audio)
1
: to move in an abrupt or headlong manner
flung out of the room in a huff
2
: to kick or plunge vigorously
the horse flung out at him as he went by
3
a
: to throw or swing with force
flung herself down on the couch
b
: to cast aside : discard
4
: to put suddenly and unexpectedly into a state or condition
flung into confusion
flinger
ˈfliŋ-ər How to pronounce fling (audio)
noun

fling

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act or instance of flinging
2
: a casual try or involvement
3
: a time of freedom for pleasure

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Nglish: Translation of fling for Spanish Speakers

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