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
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
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
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.
She flung herself into his arms.
He flung his arms around her.
I flung back my head and laughed.
He leaned back and flung his leg over the arm of the chair.
She flung herself onto the couch.
Noun
She had a fling with her boss.
They had time for one last fling before going back to school.
Recent Examples on the Web
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024
After the war, Cartier produced a brooch of that same bird, now singing, his cage flung wide open.
—Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024
Other beach-goers danced, flung Frisbees and footballs, kicked soccer balls and even duked it out in boxing gloves.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024
The incoming storm flung enough cloud cover northward at just the right height to deliver Friday’s stunning scenes.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Putin, a former KGB spy, was just 46 when he was flung to the top level of politics in 1999, plucked from relative obscurity by an ailing Boris Yeltsin to serve as Russian prime minister and soon became acting president.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
The key to life is flinging yourself into life without a plan and being open to living that way.
—Alix Strauss, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024
The difference is that the Ukrainians are flinging thousands of tiny drones at Russian troops assaulting the city.
—David Axe, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
Want to fire up your boat and spend the day flinging top-water plastics to hungry largemouth bass?
—Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
Kids came and went out of the house, crossing the border without even a cursory fling of the bedspread.
—Pamela Paul, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
When this reconnection happens, the new magnetic field lines generate enormous force, like a taut rubber band being snapped, and this force flings plasma out from the sun.
—Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024
The look would scream spring fling, block-party ready, or just casual cool.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
No sniggering jokes now about princely flings and sulky princesses and body doubles.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024
Colt disappears after suffering an injury on a movie set and checks out of his fling with colleague Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt).
—Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024
The two become good friends until Cal learns that Jacob’s latest fling is with ... his daughter.
—Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024
Verb
Byron is surveying rout and pillage, and the terrible ease with which the laws of civil society, such as respect for the elderly, are flung aside.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024
After the war, Cartier produced a brooch of that same bird, now singing, his cage flung wide open.
—Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024
Other beach-goers danced, flung Frisbees and footballs, kicked soccer balls and even duked it out in boxing gloves.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024
The incoming storm flung enough cloud cover northward at just the right height to deliver Friday’s stunning scenes.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Putin, a former KGB spy, was just 46 when he was flung to the top level of politics in 1999, plucked from relative obscurity by an ailing Boris Yeltsin to serve as Russian prime minister and soon became acting president.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
The key to life is flinging yourself into life without a plan and being open to living that way.
—Alix Strauss, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024
The difference is that the Ukrainians are flinging thousands of tiny drones at Russian troops assaulting the city.
—David Axe, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
Want to fire up your boat and spend the day flinging top-water plastics to hungry largemouth bass?
—Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
Noun
Although the relationship didn't work out, Carrie did benefit from their brief fling, writing about his bedroom interests in her column.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
Kids came and went out of the house, crossing the border without even a cursory fling of the bedspread.
—Pamela Paul, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
When this reconnection happens, the new magnetic field lines generate enormous force, like a taut rubber band being snapped, and this force flings plasma out from the sun.
—Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024
The look would scream spring fling, block-party ready, or just casual cool.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
No sniggering jokes now about princely flings and sulky princesses and body doubles.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024
Colt disappears after suffering an injury on a movie set and checks out of his fling with colleague Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt).
—Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024
The two become good friends until Cal learns that Jacob’s latest fling is with ... his daughter.
—Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fling.' 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 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
Dictionary Entries Near fling
Cite this Entry
“Fling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fling. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
fling
1 of 2 verb1
: 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
fling
2 of 2 noun1
: an act or instance of flinging
2
: a casual try or involvement
3
: a time of freedom for pleasure
More from Merriam-Webster on fling
Nglish: Translation of fling for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of fling for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
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