flush

1 of 7

verb (1)

flushed; flushing; flushes

intransitive verb

: to fly away suddenly

transitive verb

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.

flush

2 of 7

noun (1)

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

flush

3 of 7

noun (2)

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

flush

4 of 7

verb (2)

flushed; flushing; flushes

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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
2
: inflame, excite
usually used passively
flushed with pride
3
: to cause to blush

flush

5 of 7

adjective

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

flush

6 of 7

adverb

1
: in a flush manner
2
: squarely
hit him flush on the chin

flush

7 of 7

verb (3)

flushed; flushing; flushes

transitive verb

: to make flush
flush the headings on a page

Examples of flush in a Sentence

Noun (2) looked for a flush on her cheeks as evidence of a fever was in the flush of his youth a flush of patriotic pride Verb (2) use this cleaner to flush the drain in the sink he flushed deeply upon hearing the compliment 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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
What to look for in a color corrector for redness How to use redness-correcting products Shop the best color correctors for redness A little rosy flush is one thing, but if redness ranks as a major skin concern for you, these products can help. Sara Coughlin, SELF, 30 Oct. 2024 Or grab splurge-worthy products for less, like the Clinique Black Honey Lipstick and this Goop Beauty blush to give your complexion a natural-looking flush. Clara McMahon, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
In a toilet, the water volume and distance are too small to be subject to the Coriolis effect—a relief for anyone flushing the toilet at the equator. Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024 Though this boutique hotel and spa wouldn’t call itself eco, there are nods to lighter-touch living, with bikes to borrow, Bamford organic products, and rainwater captured to flush the toilets. Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
This $30-a-night spot features flush toilets and is only about two miles from the Bane Ridge Trail, an area that this past spring offered the best wildflower viewing experience. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 Most city residents will soon be unable to shower, flush toilets and wash clothes or dishes. Yacob Reyes, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024
Adverb
Then there’s the rotator stand that, combined with a wide, low-profile base, allows the bag to sit flush against the ground when the legs are fully deployed for the most-possible stability and a better club spread. Scott Kramer, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024 From a Guerlain blush that gives a 12-hours-of-sleep flush in a single swipe to Chanel’s sultry eyeshadow palette and a splurge-worthy lipstick from Hermès, these covetable products are the bow on top of any beauty look. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for flush 

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

Dictionary Entries Near flush

Cite this Entry

“Flush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flush. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

flush

1 of 5 verb
: to take flight or cause to take flight suddenly
flushed several quail

flush

2 of 5 noun
1
: 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 verb
1
2
: 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 adjective
1
a
: of a healthy reddish color
b
: full of life and vigor : lusty
2
a
: filled to overflowing
b
informal : 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 adverb
1
: 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

transitive verb

: to cleanse or wash out with or as if with a rush of liquid
the newly sewn incision is flushed with salineDon Gold

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