flush

1 of 7

verb (1)

flushed; flushing; flushes

intransitive verb

: to fly away suddenly

transitive verb

1
: to cause (a bird) to flush
The birds were flushed out of the trees.
2
: to expose or chase from a place of concealment
flushed the boys from their hiding place
Police flushed the suspects from the building.

flush

2 of 7

noun (1)

1
: a hand of playing cards all of the same suit
specifically : a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit but not in sequence see poker illustration
2
: a series of three or more slalom gates set vertically on a slope

flush

3 of 7

noun (2)

1
: a sudden flow (as of water)
also : a rinsing or cleansing with or as if with a flush of water
2
a
: a sudden increase or expansion
especially : sudden and usually abundant new plant growth
the spring flush of grass
b
: a surge of emotion
felt a flush of anger at the insult
3
a
: a tinge of red : blush
b
: a fresh and vigorous state
in the first flush of womanhood
4
: a transitory sensation of extreme heat compare hot flash

flush

4 of 7

verb (2)

flushed; flushing; flushes

intransitive verb

1
: to flow and spread suddenly and freely
2
a
: to glow brightly
b
: blush
3
: to produce new growth
the plants flush twice during the year

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to flow
b
: to pour liquid over or through
especially : to cleanse or wash out with or as if with a rush of liquid
flush the toilet
flush the lungs with air
2
: inflame, excite
usually used passively
flushed with pride
3
: to cause to blush

flush

5 of 7

adjective

1
a
: of a ruddy healthy color
b
: full of life and vigor : lusty
2
a
: filled to overflowing
streams flush with the spring runoff
b
informal : having a large amount of money
feeling flush
a company that's flush with cash/money
3
informal : readily available : abundant
4
a
: having or forming a continuous plane or unbroken surface
flush paneling
b
: directly abutting or immediately adjacent: such as
(1)
: set even with an edge of a type page or column : having no indention
(2)
: arranged edge to edge so as to fit snugly
flushness noun

flush

6 of 7

adverb

1
: in a flush manner
2
: squarely
hit him flush on the chin

flush

7 of 7

verb (3)

flushed; flushing; flushes

transitive verb

: to make flush
flush the headings on a page

Examples of flush in a Sentence

Adjective He just got paid and he was feeling flush. was flushed after getting out of the hot bath Adverb She placed her hands flush against the door and pushed with all her might. He hit the ball flush.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Note, this also includes full houses or flushes containing two pairs. Barry Collins, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 During rain events, flushes of fungi colonize the soil. Zoya Teirstein, WIRED, 17 Feb. 2024 Push foil into corners and up the sides of pan, smoothing foil flush to pan. Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2024 The bronzers deposit the perfect amount of pigment for a sculpted but soft contour, while the blushes leave behind the most natural-looking flush. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 6 Jan. 2024 Hospital patients vulnerable to restroom germs Other researchers have found there's little doubt particles can be forcefully ejected from a toilet bowl after a flush. Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024 For reference, Anthony Davis is third with 91 flushes. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2024 In many ways, Kashyap, 51, embodied India’s indie spirit and the initial flush of excitement about streaming — and how both have since been subdued. Anant Gupta, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023 In 2022, physicists and engineers at the University of Colorado, Boulder, managed to visualize toilet plumes of tiny airborne particles ejected from toilets during a flush using a combination of green lasers and cameras. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
The cerebrospinal fluid picks up all of the waste products in the spaces between neurons before being flushed out again through the same channels, leaving behind clean interstitial fluid. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Next is purgation, aimed at flushing out the intestines. Jane Alexander, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Feb. 2024 Without such reforms, simply spending more public money is the equivalent of flushing it down a (nonexistent) toilet. The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2024 Over the years, the minerals percolate through the soil to the water table and eventually get flushed into rivers and oceans. Dina Genkina, Ars Technica, 1 Feb. 2024 Another portion of the state grants will go to rebuild and automate the structure that diverts water into the canals and replace an old gate that flushes sediment out of the system. The Arizona Republic, 29 Jan. 2024 California indeed flushes a significant amount of water to the Pacific Ocean, something which angers many farmers and bipartisan lawmakers — particularly people in the Central Valley, California’s massive agricultural belt. Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2024 At the same time, the fresh precipitation has the capacity to flush out food in the water which sustains oysters now growing in the Bay. Louise Schiavone, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Purdy was sacked just once, but he got flushed repeatedly (see: final throw). Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Or apply the spackle flush with the wall, sand lightly, then skim-coat the area with drywall compound, which is easy to sand smooth for a flawless finish. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Our son, Calvin, flush with the cockiness of a new learner’s permit, crashed into a curb, causing thousands of dollars in damage to our formerly best car. Maria Garriott, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2024 Armenia, flush with Russian weapons, was thoroughly defeated by Azerbaijan. Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 In the not-so-distant past, Uber was once the poster child for being a money-losing company flush with VC funding. Michelle Cheng, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2024 The tally is flush with Keith’s songs, including this beloved collaboration. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The history of the Super Bowl is flush with trick plays — in the season’s final game, with everything on the line, why hold anything back? Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2024 If your mileage account is flush with American Airlines AAdvantage points, don’t forget about the new Award Map feature in the award search tool on the airline’s website. Ramsey Qubein, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Feb. 2024 Israel’s military is already fully activated and flush with reservists who have honed their fighting skills in Gaza. John Hudson, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024
Adverb
If plastic wall anchors are left, slice the plastic off flush with the wall, using a sharp utility knife. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Iran in particular has emerged flush with cash, a consequence of the U.S.’ own faltering steps — from the Obama administration to Donald Trump’s tenure — that inadvertently bolstered Iran’s economic resilience. Sanctions, once the sharp sword of U.S. foreign policy, have been blunted. Armstrong Williams, Orange County Register, 3 Feb. 2024 The room was tiny, with space for a twin bed, arranged flush against the walls, and a sink. Olivia Bensimon Todd Heisler, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 For example, having a low nose bridge might mean the headset slips or does not sit flush on the face. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 15 Feb. 2024 The cabinet doors were easy to open and even easier to close, thanks to magnetic strips that keep them closed flush. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2024 Ski sweaters are worn between moisture-wicking base layers that go flush against your skin and your heavy-duty, waterproof shell. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2023 The base has a rim that sits flush against the tile or ceramic floor to catch anything that’s not water or soap from escaping down the drain. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 21 Dec. 2023 The top of the new S-Pen barrel is less rounded than before, meaning the pen will now sit flush with the edges of the Galaxy S24, reducing unwanted ejections. Ewan Spence, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flush.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English flusshen

Noun (1)

Middle French flus, fluz, from Latin fluxus flow, flux

Noun (2)

perhaps modification of Latin fluxus

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1548, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (3)

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flush was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near flush

Cite this Entry

“Flush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flush. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

flush

1 of 5 verb
: to take flight or cause to take flight suddenly
flushed several quail

flush

2 of 5 noun
1
: a sudden flow (as of water)
2
: a sudden increase (as of emotion)
a flush of triumph
3
b
: a fresh and vigorous state
the flush of youth
4
: a brief sensation of heat

flush

3 of 5 verb
1
2
: to pour liquid over or through
especially : to wash out with a rush of liquid
flush a toilet
3
: inflame sense 2, excite
flushed with pride
4
: to make red or hot

flush

4 of 5 adjective
1
a
: of a healthy reddish color
b
: full of life and vigor : lusty
2
a
: filled to overflowing
b
: well supplied especially with money
3
a
: having an unbroken surface
flush paneling
b
: even with the neighboring surface
a river flush with the top of its bank
flushness noun

flush

5 of 5 adverb
1
: so as to be flush
2
: so as to make solid contact
a blow flush on the chin
Etymology

Verb

Middle English flusshen "to fly up suddenly"

Noun

perhaps from Latin fluxus, "flow," from fluere "to flow" — related to fluid

Medical Definition

flush

1 of 2 noun
: a transitory sensation of extreme heat (as in response to some drugs or in some physiological states)
menopausal flushes

flush

2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to blush or become suddenly suffused with color due to vasodilation

transitive verb

: to cleanse or wash out with or as if with a rush of liquid
the newly sewn incision is flushed with salineDon Gold

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