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Meaning & use

flash

noun, verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/flæʃ/
US/flæʃ/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A sudden, brief burst of bright light.

    Grammar: Often a flash of lightning.

    Patterns

    • a flash of something

    A flash of lightning lit up the sky.

    The camera's flash made her blink.

    We saw a flash from the far hill.

  2. nouncountable

    A very short moment of time or a sudden brief feeling.

    Grammar: Often in a flash or a flash of insight.

    Patterns

    • in a flash
    • a flash of something

    The year passed in a flash.

    She felt a flash of anger at the comment.

    He had a flash of inspiration in the shower.

  3. verbtransitive or intransitive

    To shine brightly for a moment or in bursts, or to make light appear in that way.

    Grammar: No object: the light flashed; with an object: flash a torch.

    Patterns

    • flash something at someone
    • flash on and off

    The warning light flashed red.

    A driver flashed his headlights to warn us.

    Lightning flashed across the valley.

  4. verbtransitive or intransitive

    To move, pass, or appear extremely fast, or to show something quickly.

    Grammar: Often with past or by: flash past.

    Patterns

    • flash past
    • flash a smile

    A train flashed past the window.

    She flashed a smile and walked on.

    The agent flashed his badge at the guard.

Word forms

pluralflashes
third person singularflashes
past tenseflashed
past participleflashed
-ing formflashing

Common combinations

in a flash
The cat disappeared in a flash.
flash of lightning
A flash of lightning split the sky.
flash a smile
He flashed a smile at the crowd.
flash of inspiration
She had a flash of inspiration.
camera flash
Turn off the camera flash in the museum.
flash drive
Save the file on a flash drive.

Synonyms and how they differ

flicker
Flicker is a weak, unsteady light, while flash is strong and sudden.
blaze
Blaze burns for a longer time, whereas a flash is gone at once.
glint
Glint is a small bright sparkle, while flash is larger and faster.
dart
Dart describes quick movement of a body, while flash can describe light, speed, or showing something.

Opposites

glowdim

Word family

flashy adjective
showy and bright
flasher noun
a device that flashes
flashback noun
a scene or memory of the past
flashlight noun
an electric torch
flashing adjective
lighting up in bursts

Commonly confused: flash or flush?

flash vs flush

Flush means to turn red or to clear with water, while flash means light or fast movement.

Practice

Which sentence uses flash to mean a very short time?

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