flex

1 of 3

verb

ˈfleks 

flexed; flexing; flexes

transitive verb

1

: to bend especially repeatedly

2

a

: to move muscles so as to cause flexion of (a joint)

b

: to move or tense (a muscle) by contraction

3

: use, demonstrate

flexing her skills as a singer

intransitive verb

1

: bend

2

informal

a

: to talk in a boastful or aggressive way

"Bronze" is one of the most straightforward new tracks: a boastful and insidiously dark song that sees him flexing about his many wins.

—Raisa Bruner

—often used with on to indicate the person, group, etc. at whom the talk is directed

Hip-hop has never just been about selling drugs, flexing on haters, and threatening enemies, as many like to portray it.

—Aaron Williams

… he … went searching for criticism, then tried to flex on a random criticizer.

—Ashley Feinberg

"… And if President Trump is going to continue to flex on China, whether it's with tariffs, whether it's just talking tough and tweeting tough, that still draws a very stark contrast between himself and the Democratic Party. …"

—Mattie Duppler

b

: to make an ostentatious display of something : show off

While tons of influencers love to flex on Instagram via designer bags and other luxury splurges, others are all about that perfect high-low balance …

—Bella Gerard

—often used with on to indicate the person, group, etc. at whom the display is directed

It's in-your-face branding that is all about flexing on your friends in their more common, more conventional limousines.

—Max Finkel

flex

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural flexes

1

: an act or instance of flexing or bending

[Trae] Young finished with 22 points, seven assists and two steals—and a muscle flex after the game-winner.

—Chris Vivlamore

2

: flexibility, pliancy

The … fillet blade has a nice flex to it.

—Matt Foster

3

informal : an act of bragging or showing off

Monster (1994) was R.E.M.'s weird flex: an over-the-top rock album saturated with distortion, propelled by power chords and guitar feedback, and voiced by singer Michael Stipe's newly found enthusiasm.

—David Gill

flex

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural flexes

chiefly British

: an electric cord

Phrases

flex one's muscles

: to demonstrate one's strength

an exaggerated need to flex his political muscles

—J. P. Lash

Examples of flex in a Sentence

Verb

He flexed the muscles of his right arm.

a material that flexes easily

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The delegation then flexes their muscles by dropping a red ball down the silo’s center, signaling to their comrades in Mechanical to shut down the power. —Noel Murray, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024

In the right-field Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, where dozens of media members gathered for yet another introductory news conference welcoming a star player to the organization, the Dodgers flexed their financial muscles with businesslike handshakes and celebratory smiles. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024

Noun

Artificial intelligence has never been more powerful, constantly expanding its litany of flexes — from generating sonnets and fantastical images to believably mimicking emotions, all while churning through mountains of data faster than any human being could. —Adriana Lee, WWD, 26 Nov. 2024

The hose can bend in the middle, making it so the vacuum flexes enough to reach way under the living room sofa to get rid of any lingering dust bunnies. —Brittany Vanderbill, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Latin flexus, past participle of flectere "to cause to go in a different direction, bend, curve," of uncertain origin

Noun (1)

derivative of flex entry 1

Noun (2)

short for flexible cord

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1521, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1905, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing flex

• flex-cuff
• flex-fuel

Kids Definition

flex

verb

ˈfleks

1

: to bend especially over and over

2

a

: to move muscles so as to cause flexion of

b

: to move or tense (a muscle) by contraction

Medical Definition

flex

transitive verb

ˈfleks 

1

: to bend especially repeatedly

2

a

: to move muscles so as to cause flexion of (a joint)

stretching and flexing his knees

b

: to move or tense (a muscle or muscles) by contraction

flexed their biceps