flushed; flushing; flushes
: to fly away suddenly
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.
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
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
flushed; flushing; flushes
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
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
3
: to cause to blush
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
flushed; flushing; flushes
: to make flush
flush the headings on a page
Synonyms
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
Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
In homes with older toilets, installing a new, water-efficient toilet sometimes helps because these toilets don’t usually empty the whole tank on each flush.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
This is because spring and summer are the seasons when cycads put out their annual flush of growth.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 30 Mar. 2024
When the plane is on the ground, however, the differential pressure isn’t there – meaning that the toilet flush is operated by a pump, which creates a vacuum in the tank.
—Julia Buckley, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
The good news is that corporate America has come through the pandemic flush with an unprecedented amount of cash.
—Marc Cooper, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
During the 2017 eclipse, a study using radar to detect bird and insect movement in the air showed a flush of activity during totality, Dunn said.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Mar. 2024
Artist Yumi Lee took cues from the tropics—leaning into earthy tones and natural flushes of color in partnership with MERIT.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
Though shimmery, the lip gloss has subtle color, while the eyeshadows are simple to blend and the blush gives a nice, natural-looking flush to the cheeks.
—Rich Scherr, Parents, 9 Jan. 2024
Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
In 2023, the internet was flushed with videos of toilets with singing human heads, engaged in fierce battle with a race of robotic men — Skibidi Toilet had arrived.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
With the complications of mast cell activation syndrome, including drops in blood pressure, flushing, severe itching and rashes, Ms. Banks relied on alternative therapies, including reiki, hypnosis, emotional freedom technique, quantum healing and regression therapy.
—Alex Williams, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
While packing up my father's estate, I was overcome with an urgent desire to flush the poison of the previous three years from my cells.
—Chloe Bottero, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024
But with multiple problems for cities now converging—extreme heat, water shortages, and rapid population growth—increasingly scientists are finding clever ways to extract more use from water that’s flushed away.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024
The gentle formula flushes out irritants and moisturizes dry nasal passages related to allergies, colds, flu, and sinusitis.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024
Observers should avoid agitating or flushing the eagles from the nest as well as minimize the use of flash photography.
—Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024
Thankfully, the changes Vance instituted to flush out an NCIS mole — Ziva to Israel!
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024
Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
In the sprawl beyond Bengaluru’s core, where dreams of tech riches usually grow, schools lack water to flush toilets.
—Damien Cave Atul Loke, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024
All that is to say, Ukraine soon could be flush with artillery ammo.
—David Axe, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
When the spackle dries, add another layer of spackle and smooth it out to cover all of the mesh, leaving the spackle edges almost flush with the wall.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
The Rams are flush with salary-cap space and cash to spend on free agents.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
On Valentine’s Day, Bradley Cooper strode onto the stage of Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall, flush with exuberance in his tux.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024
At that time, consumers were still mostly stuck at home, flush with savings and had little else to do but spend on goods.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024
The country’s northernmost region happens to be flush with hotels that are purpose-built for snoozing under the night sky, where the Northern Lights are visible about 200 nights a year.
—Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2024
Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
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
Noun
Usually the essayist commissioned to take to the sea is in their first or second flush of youth and is ready to sharpen their wit against the hull of the offending vessel.
—Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
In homes with older toilets, installing a new, water-efficient toilet sometimes helps because these toilets don’t usually empty the whole tank on each flush.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
This is because spring and summer are the seasons when cycads put out their annual flush of growth.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 30 Mar. 2024
When the plane is on the ground, however, the differential pressure isn’t there – meaning that the toilet flush is operated by a pump, which creates a vacuum in the tank.
—Julia Buckley, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
The good news is that corporate America has come through the pandemic flush with an unprecedented amount of cash.
—Marc Cooper, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
During the 2017 eclipse, a study using radar to detect bird and insect movement in the air showed a flush of activity during totality, Dunn said.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Mar. 2024
Artist Yumi Lee took cues from the tropics—leaning into earthy tones and natural flushes of color in partnership with MERIT.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
Though shimmery, the lip gloss has subtle color, while the eyeshadows are simple to blend and the blush gives a nice, natural-looking flush to the cheeks.
—Rich Scherr, Parents, 9 Jan. 2024
Verb
Excessive doses of magnesium can be dangerous for people living with kidney impairment, as excess magnesium is flushed out in the urine.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
In 2023, the internet was flushed with videos of toilets with singing human heads, engaged in fierce battle with a race of robotic men — Skibidi Toilet had arrived.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
With the complications of mast cell activation syndrome, including drops in blood pressure, flushing, severe itching and rashes, Ms. Banks relied on alternative therapies, including reiki, hypnosis, emotional freedom technique, quantum healing and regression therapy.
—Alex Williams, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
While packing up my father's estate, I was overcome with an urgent desire to flush the poison of the previous three years from my cells.
—Chloe Bottero, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024
But with multiple problems for cities now converging—extreme heat, water shortages, and rapid population growth—increasingly scientists are finding clever ways to extract more use from water that’s flushed away.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024
The gentle formula flushes out irritants and moisturizes dry nasal passages related to allergies, colds, flu, and sinusitis.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024
Observers should avoid agitating or flushing the eagles from the nest as well as minimize the use of flash photography.
—Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024
Thankfully, the changes Vance instituted to flush out an NCIS mole — Ziva to Israel!
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The vibe outside is more unified and streamlined than before, with conventional door handles replaced by flush grips that extend and retract automatically.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
In the sprawl beyond Bengaluru’s core, where dreams of tech riches usually grow, schools lack water to flush toilets.
—Damien Cave Atul Loke, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024
All that is to say, Ukraine soon could be flush with artillery ammo.
—David Axe, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
When the spackle dries, add another layer of spackle and smooth it out to cover all of the mesh, leaving the spackle edges almost flush with the wall.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
The Rams are flush with salary-cap space and cash to spend on free agents.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
On Valentine’s Day, Bradley Cooper strode onto the stage of Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall, flush with exuberance in his tux.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024
At that time, consumers were still mostly stuck at home, flush with savings and had little else to do but spend on goods.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024
The country’s northernmost region happens to be flush with hotels that are purpose-built for snoozing under the night sky, where the Northern Lights are visible about 200 nights a year.
—Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2024
Adverb
And it’s estimated that 2.2 billion pounds of chloride flush into Lake Michigan annually.
—Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
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
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
Phrases Containing flush
Dictionary Entries Near flush
Cite this Entry
“Flush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flush. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
flush
1 of 5 verb
: to take flight or cause to take flight suddenly
flushed several quail
flush
2 of 5 noun1
: 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 verb2
: 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 adjective1
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 adverb1
: 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
: to cleanse or wash out with or as if with a rush of liquid
the newly sewn incision is flushed with saline—Don Gold
Don Gold
More from Merriam-Webster on flush
Nglish: Translation of flush for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of flush for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flush
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share