flag

UK: /ˈflæg/ US: /flæg/ ,(flag)

Inflections of 'flag' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

flags

v 3rd person singular

flagging

v pres p

flagged

v past

flagged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

flag¹ /flæg/   n., v., flagged, flag•ging. 
n. [countable]

1. a usually rectangular piece of cloth marked with distinctive colors or designs and used as a symbol, as of a nation, or as a means of signaling:
   The American flag has both stars and stripes.

v. [~ + object]

2. to signal or warn with or as if with a flag: [ ~ (+ down) + obj]:
   to flag (down) a taxi.
   [ ~ + obj (+ down)]:
   to flag a taxi (down).
3. to mark (a page, file, card, etc.) for attention, as by attaching protruding tabs:
   I flagged the section of the paper I thought you should read.

flag³ /flæg/   v. [no object] , flagged, flag•ging. 

1. to fall off in vigor, energy or interest;
   droop:
   Attendance flagged after the team lost.

flag⁴ /flæg/  n. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

flag¹  (flag), n., v., flagged, flag•ging. 
n. 

1. a piece of cloth, varying in size, shape, color, and design, usually attached at one edge to a staff or cord, and used as the symbol of a nation, state, or organization, as a means of signaling, etc.;
   ensign;
   standard;
   banner;
   pennant.
2. Birds [Ornith.] the tuft of long feathers on the legs of falcons and most hawks;
   the lengthened feathers on the crus or tibia.
3. Sport [Hunting.] the tail of a deer or of a setter dog.
4. Journalism
   • Journalism the nameplate of a newspaper.
   • , Printing, Journalism masthead (def. 1).
   • Journalism the name of a newspaper as printed on the editorial page.
5. a tab or tag attached to a page, file card, etc., to mark it for attention.
6. Music and Dance hook (def. 12a).
7. Cinema [Motion Pictures, Television.] a small gobo.
8. Usually, flags. the ends of the bristles of a brush, esp. a paintbrush, when split.
9. Computing a symbol, value, or other means of identifying data of interest, or of informing later parts of a program what conditions earlier parts have encountered.
10. strike the flag:
    • Idioms to relinquish command, as of a ship.
    • Idioms to submit or surrender:
      His financial situation is growing worse, but he's not ready to strike the flag.
      Also, strike one's flag. 

v.t. 

11. to place a flag or flags over or on;
    decorate with flags.
12. to signal or warn (a person, automobile, etc.) with or as if with a flag (sometimes fol. by down):
    to flag a taxi; to flag down a passing car.
13. to communicate (information) by or as if by a flag.
14. to decoy, as game, by waving a flag or the like to excite attention or curiosity.
15. to mark (a page in a book, file card, etc.) for attention, as by attaching protruding tabs.
16. (of a brush) to split the ends of the bristles.

• perh. blend of, blended flap (noun, nominal) and fag¹ (noun, nominal) in obsolete sense "flap'' 1475–85

flag′ger, n. 
flag′less, adj. 

flag²  (flag), n. 

1. Plant Biology any of various plants with long, sword-shaped leaves, as the sweet flag.
2. Plant Biology See blue flag. 
3. the long, slender leaf of such a plant or of a cereal.

• Middle English flagge 1350–1400

flag³  (flag), v.i., flagged, flag•ging. 

1. to fall off in vigor, energy, activity, interest, etc.:
   Public enthusiasm flagged when the team kept losing.
2. to hang loosely or limply;
   droop.

• perh. blend of, blended of flap (verb, verbal) and fag¹ (verb, verbal) in obsolete sense "to droop''. See flag¹ 1535–45

Synonyms

• 1. dwindle, wilt, slump, sag, wane.

flag⁴  (flag), n., v., flagged, flag•ging. 
n. 

1. Building flagstone (def. 1).
2. Building flags, flagstone (def. 2).

v.t. 

3. Building to pave with flagstones.

• 1400–50; late Middle English flagge piece of sod; akin to Old Norse flaga slab

flag′ger, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flag / flæɡ/ noun

1. a piece of cloth, esp bunting, often attached to a pole or staff, decorated with a design and used as an emblem, symbol, or standard or as a means of signalling
2. a small paper flag, emblem, or sticker sold on flag days
3. 
   short for flagship
4. another name for masthead2
5. the conspicuously marked tail of a deer
6. a less common name for bookmark
7. the part of a taximeter that is raised when a taxi is for hire
8. show the flag ⇒ to assert a claim, as to a territory or stretch of water, by military presence
9. to be present; make an appearance

verb (flags, flagging, flagged)(transitive)

1. to decorate or mark with a flag or flags
2. (often followed by down) to warn or signal (a vehicle) to stop
3. to send or communicate (messages, information, etc) by flag

Etymology: 16th Century: of uncertain origin

ˈflagger noun

flag / flæɡ/ verb (flags, flagging, flagged)(intransitive)

1. to hang down; become limp; droop
2. to decline in strength or vigour; become weak or tired

Etymology: 16th Century: of unknown origin

flag / flæɡ/ noun

1. any of various plants that have long swordlike leaves, esp the iris Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag)
2. the leaf of any such plant

See also sweet flagEtymology: 14th Century: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Dutch flag, Danish flæg yellow iris

flag / flæɡ/ noun

1. short for flagstone

verb (flags, flagging, flagged)

1. (transitive) to furnish (a floor) with flagstones

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

flag•stone /ˈflægˌstoʊn/   n. [countable]

1. Building a flat stone slab used esp. for paving.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

flag•stone  (flag′stōn′), n. 

1. Building Also called flag. a flat stone slab used esp. for paving.
2. Building flagstones, a walk, terrace, etc., paved with flagstones.
3. Rocks rock, as sandstone or shale, suitable for splitting into flagstones.

• flag⁴ + stone 1720–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flagstone / ˈflæɡˌstəʊn/, flag noun

1. a hard fine-textured rock, such as a sandstone or shale, that can be split up into slabs for paving
2. a slab of such a rock

Etymology: 15th Century flag (in the sense: sod, turf), from Old Norse flaga slab; compare Old English flæcg plaster, poultice