flash

FLASH/flæʃ/

Pluralflashes

Verbflashes, flashing, flashed

46 meanings of flash

Practice

1
burst of lightnouncountable or uncountable
A quick, bright burst of light that does not last long.
Like when someone quickly turns a bright light on and off.
A flash of light came from the camera as he took the photo.
We saw a bright flash when the bulb suddenly broke.
UsageOften a flash of light or lightning.
Similargleam, glint
2
verbintransitive
To shine for a moment or on and off, or to make a light do that.
Like a light that keeps turning on and off by itself.
The lights flash when the train is coming.
The red light on the smoke alarm flashed on and off.
UsageLights flash on and off. Eyes just flash.
Similarblink, flicker, flare
Note
3
sudden (event)adjective
Happening suddenly and lasting only a short time.
Like something over almost as soon as it starts.
The shop ran a flash sale for one hour only.
Heavy rain upstream caused a flash flood in the valley.
Similarsudden, instant, rapid, lightning, quick
Oppositeprolonged, lengthy, extended
Note
4
camera lightnouncountable or uncountableabbreviationclipping
Short for camera flash. It is the part of a camera that makes a quick, bright light for photos.
She turned on the flash to take a photo in the dark hall.
The flash on my phone is broken, so my night photos look dark.
UsageA flash is the device. You take photos with flash.
Note
5
data storagenoununcountableabbreviationclipping
Short for flash memory. It stores computer data even when the power is off.
The tablet stores all its apps in flash.
The new laptop comes with lots of flash for storing files.
UsageNo a before it: apps are stored in flash.
6
show brieflyverbtransitive
To show something for a very short time.
Like turning a light on and off fast so people notice it.
You only need to flash your pass at the door.
He flashed a quick smile at the camera.
UsageYou can flash someone a smile or flash a card at someone.
Similarshow, display, brandish, wave
Oppositehide, conceal
Note
7
split secondnouncountable or uncountable
A very quick moment, almost no time at all.
Like the time it takes to blink your eyes.
The whole meal was gone in a flash.
She solved the puzzle in a flash.
UsageUsually in the phrase in a flash.
Similarinstant, moment, second, jiffy, twinkling
Oppositeaeon
Note
8
verbfigurativelyintransitive
To appear or come into your mind suddenly, for just a moment.
Like a spark that lights up bright and then dies down.
An idea flashed into her head while she was walking home.
Old memories flash through my mind whenever I hear that song.
UsageIdeas flash into or through your mind.
Similarshoot, dart, pop
9
nouncountable or uncountable
A quick showing of something for just a moment, like a smile or a badge.
Like opening and closing a window fast so someone sees inside for a second.
A quick flash of his badge got him past the guard.
With a flash of her smile, she won everyone over.
Similarglimpse, flicker, show
10
load softwareverbtransitive
To put new software onto a chip inside a device.
Like replacing the instructions inside a machine with a brand-new set.
He flashed new firmware onto the router last night.
Technicians flash the chips before shipping the boards.
UsageYou can flash new software onto a phone, or flash the phone.
Similarupdate, program, write, burn
Note
11
sudden brilliancenounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
A sudden burst of a clever idea, wit, or feeling.
Like a light bulb suddenly turning on in your mind.
A flash of insight helped him solve the problem.
She had a sudden flash of genius during the meeting.
UsageUsually a flash of something: a flash of genius.
Similarburst, spark, stroke, moment, flicker
Note
12
think backverbintransitive
To suddenly think back to an earlier time or memory.
Like your memory jumping straight to a scene from long ago.
Her mind flashed back to that summer by the lake.
Veterans sometimes flash back to moments from the war.
UsageUse to: you flash back to a memory.
Similarreturn
Note
13
speed pastverbintransitive
To move, or make something move, very suddenly and fast.
Like something zooming by so fast you barely see it.
Cars flash past the window all day long.
A shadow flashed across the wall.
UsageOften flash past or flash by.
Similarrace, dart, streak, dash, zip
Oppositecrawl, creep
Note
14
nounfigurativelyuncountable
A showy, exciting style that grabs people's attention.
Like shiny wrapping that makes a plain gift look exciting.
The performance had real flash but very little substance.
Her presentation was all flash and no real detail.
UsageOften said as all flash and no substance.
Similarflair, elan
Oppositeunderstatement, restraint, subtlety
Note
15
show offverbtransitive
To show off something in a proud or showy way.
Like showing off a new toy so everyone notices it.
He likes to flash his new phone to all his friends.
She flashed a wad of cash at the counter.
UsagePeople flash their money around to show off.
Similarflaunt, parade, display, brandish, show
Oppositehide, conceal
16
adjectiveslangAustraliaBritishNew Zealand
Showy and costly-looking, or showing off money.
Like a shiny new toy that everyone stops to look at.
He turned up in a really flash sports car.
Their new kitchen looks very flash.
UsageOften a bit too flash: showy in a way people do not like.
Similarflashy, showy, swanky, fancy, ostentatious
Oppositeunderstated, modest, plain
Note
17
nouncountable or uncountable
A kind of badge that people in the military wear on their uniforms.
After months of hard training, she sewed her new flash onto her uniform.
All the soldiers in his unit wear the same flash on their sleeves.
Similarbadge, patch, insignia
Note

Less common meanings

18
expose yourselfverbcolloquialtransitive or intransitive
To quickly show a private part of your body or your underwear, often by accident.
Be careful not to flash anyone when you bend over.
She accidentally flashed the camera when her dress shifted.
UsageFlash someone usually means this, so say what you showed: flash your card.
Similarexpose
Note
19
glimpse of underwearnouncountable or uncountable
A quick showing of a private body part or underwear in public.
Her skirt blew up, and everyone got a quick flash of her underwear.
A gust of wind caused an embarrassing flash of his boxers.
Similarexposure
Note
20
breaking newsnoundatedcountable or uncountable
A quick, important piece of breaking news.
Similarbulletin, alert, update
Note
21
verbtransitive
To send news or a message very quickly.
Like sending a quick text to someone far away.
They flash the results to every office at once.
The tower flashed a signal to the incoming plane.
Similarsend, transmit, beam, signal
22
drug rushnouncountable or uncountable
The sudden rush of feeling high right after taking a drug.
Like a quick wave of warmth that washes over you all at once.
Right after he injected the drug, a warm flash rushed through his body.
He said the drug gave him a sudden flash, then left him sick and tired.
Similarrush, high, hit, buzz
Oppositecomedown, crash
Note
23
nouncolloquialUS
A small light you hold in your hand to see in the dark.
I reached a flash out of my car pocket and went down-grade and looked at the car.
1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep
24
noun
A ready-made tattoo design shown on paper for customers to pick from.
25
verb
To climb a route all the way on your first try.
26
verbrare
To suddenly burst out into violent or angry action.
27
adjectivedialectal
Having a lot of money ready to spend.
28
noun
Extra material left on the edge of something made in a mold, where the mold's parts meet.
29
verb
To ring someone once and hang up so they call you back.
30
verb
To turn quickly into gas, used of a liquid.
31
verb
To put a very thin coat of one color of glass over another.
32
verb
To spin hot glass until it opens into a flat, round sheet.
33
verb
In juggling, to throw and catch each object just one time.
34
verb
To let gas out of a tank under pressure.
35
verbobsolete
To decorate something to make it look showy.
36
verbobsolete
To hit water so that it splashes up high.
37
noundialectalBritishCockney
Bright cloth strips or buttons sewn on a street seller's clothes near the neck.
38
noun
A juggling trick where you toss each object up and catch it just once.
39
noun
A secret way of talking that a group uses so people in power cannot understand.
40
nounarchaic
A mix of pepper and burnt sugar put in alcohol so it seems stronger.
41
noun
A kind of small butterfly.
42
noun
A return of the feelings from a drug like LSD, long after they first wore off.
43
noun
A quick press on a phone's switch to use services like call waiting.
44
adjectiveobsolete
Having to do with thieves and people who wander with no settled home.
Why, you would not be boosing till lightman's in a square crib like mine, as if you were in a flash panny?
1828, Edward Bulwer Lytton Baron Lytton, Pelham
45
noun
A pool of water, often where ground has sunk over a mine.
46
noun
A pool beside a river that lets out water to lift boats over shallow places.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of flash apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This comes from an old English word that likely just imitated a sound like splashing. Other senses probably come from a northern Germanic word meaning to burn brightly, linked to 'flare'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The word derives partly from an older English word probably of imitative origin, associated with splashing. Here 'old English' is read descriptively; the historical language is Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
Other senses probably have North Germanic origins, connected with burning brightly and related to 'flare'. en.wiktionary.org