flicker
1 of 3verb
flick·er ˈfli-kər 
flickered; flickering ˈfli-k(ə-)riŋ
intransitive verb
1
: to move irregularly or unsteadily : flutter
Shadows flickered on the wall.
2
: to burn or shine fitfully or with a fluctuating light
a candle flickering in the window
3
: to appear or pass briefly or quickly
Thoughts flickered through his mind.
A smile flickered across her face.
transitive verb
1
: to cause to flicker
2
: to produce by flickering
flicker
2 of 3noun (1)
1
a
: an act of flickering
b
: a sudden brief movement
the flicker of an eyelash
c
: a momentary quickening
a flicker of anger
d
: a slight indication : hint
a flicker of recognition
2
a
: a wavering light
the flicker of a candle
b
: a repeated momentary defect in a cathode-ray tube image caused especially by slow scanning of the screen
3
dated, informal : movie —often used in plural
flickery
ˈfli-k(ə-)rē
adjective flicker
3 of 3noun (2)
: a large barred and spotted North American woodpecker (Colaptes auratus) with a brown back that commonly forages on the ground for ants compare red-shafted flicker, yellow-shafted flicker
Synonyms
Verb
- dance
- dart
- flick
- flirt
- flit
- flitter
- flutter
- zip
Noun (1)
- film
- flick
- motion picture
- movie
- moving picture
- picture
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb A TV was flickering in the background. The overhead light kept flickering off and on. Thoughts flickered through his mind. A smile flickered across her face.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English flikeren, from Old English flicorian
Noun (2)
probably imitative of its call
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (1)
1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (2)
1809, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing flicker
Kids Definition
flicker 1 of 3
verb
flick·er ˈfli-kər
flickered; flickering
1
: to burn unsteadily
a flickering candle
2
: to appear briefly
A smile flickered across her face.
3
: to move quickly
Roy's eyes flickered to her hand …
Carl Hiaasen, Hoot
Carl Hiaasen, Hootflicker
2 of 3noun
1
: a quick small movement
a flicker of the eyelids
2
: a quick movement of light
flicker
3 of 3noun
: a large North American woodpecker
Medical Definition
flicker
noun
flick·er ˈflik-ər
: the wavering or fluttering visual sensation produced by intermittent light when the interval between flashes is not small enough to produce complete fusion of the individual impressions
flickery
adjective
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly wise political leaders don't try to govern according to flickery public opinion Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- volatile
- unpredictable
- unstable
- changeful
- inconsistent
- mercurial
- variable
- fluctuating
- uncertain
- capricious
- temperamental
- unsettled
- fickle
- inconstant
- mutable
- erratic
- shaky
- skittish
- changeable
- random
- unsteady
- fluid
- slapdash
- scattered
- aimless
- unreliable
- arbitrary
- desultory
- haphazard
- wavering
- ambivalent
- vacillating
- hit-or-miss
- irregular
- up in the air
- stray
- hesitating
- undependable
- mobile
- dicey
- untrustworthy
- protean
- versatile
- shilly-shallying
- adaptable
- shilly-shally
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stationary
- stable
- constant
- unchanging
- predictable
- certain
- steady
- unvarying
- invariable
- changeless
- uniform
- immutable
- unchangeable
- even
- persistent
- equable
- permanent
- settled
- lasting
- abiding
- durable
- reliable
- sure
- dependable
- true
- trusty
- trustworthy
- tried
- tried-and-true