flicker
gb/flˈɪkɚ/ us/flˈɪkɚ/
B1
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Shine with unsteady light
To shine in a way that goes on and off quickly or is not steady.
Usage pattern:
[light] flickers
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'flicker' with 'flash'. 'Flash' is usually a single quick burst of light, while 'flicker' suggests repeated or continuous unsteady light.
Synonyms
flutter (Used for quick, irregular movements of light or shadow, but also applies to movement in general.)
|
waver (Emphasizes instability or unsteadiness, often in light or sound.)
Antonyms
shine steadily (Light that remains constant without variation.)
Collocations
candle flickers
|light flickers
|flame flickers
|screen flickers
Themes
daily life
|nature
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The candle flickered in the breeze.
- A faint light flickered at the end of the tunnel.
- The streetlamp flickered before going out.
- Her computer screen kept flickering during the storm.
Learner examples
- The candle flickers when the wind blows.
- The light flickers in the dark room.
- The flame flickers and moves.
- The TV screen flickers sometimes.
Verb
B2
action
2
Appear for a brief moment
To be seen or felt for a very short time.
Usage pattern:
[emotion/image/thought] flickers [across/through] [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'linger', which means to stay for a long time.
Synonyms
flash (Can imply suddenness but not necessarily repetition.)
|
glimmer (Suggests a faint or weak appearance, often positive or hopeful.)
Antonyms
linger (To remain for a long time instead of appearing briefly.)
Collocations
smile flickers
|thought flickers
|emotion flickers
Themes
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A smile flickered across his face.
- Doubt flickered in her eyes.
- An image of his childhood home flickered in his mind.
- Fear flickered across the crowd.
Learner examples
- A smile flickered on her face.
- A thought flickered in my head.
- Fear flickered in his eyes.
- A light of hope flickered in her heart.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Brief unsteady flash or feeling
A short and weak light, or a quick feeling or look.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'flicker' (a momentary sign) with 'spark' which can suggest initiation rather than instability.
Synonyms
glimmer (Often implies faintness and hopefulness.)
|
flash (Suggests suddenness but not necessarily faintness.)
Antonyms
steady glow (Continuous, unwavering light.)
Collocations
a flicker of light
|a flicker of hope
|a flicker of doubt
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a flicker of light in the distance.
- She felt a flicker of hope.
- A flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
- I saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes.
Learner examples
- I saw a flicker of light.
- She had a flicker of hope.
- He had a flicker of doubt.
- There was a flicker in the dark.
Grammar
Dictionary form
flicker
IPA
GB/flˈɪkɚ/
US/flˈɪkɚ/
Syllables & stress
flick - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (flick)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: flicker
Verb
- Base: flicker
- 3rd Person Singular: flickers
- Present Participle: flickering
- Past: flickered
Word family
Forms
flickers
verb
flickering
verb
flickered
verb
Related words
flick
verb B1
Expressions
flicker across someone's face
1/flˈɪkɚ əkɹˈɔs sˈʌmwˌʌnz fˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
Brief expression on face
To show quickly on someone's face before disappearing.
Examples
- A smile flickered across his face before he turned away.
- Surprise flickered across her face for just a moment.
flicker of hope
1/flˈɪkɚ əv hˈoʊp/
fixed phrase
Brief small feeling of hope
A short and small feeling that something good might happen.
Examples
- She felt a flicker of hope when she saw the rescue team.
- There was still a flicker of hope that he might recover.
without a flicker
1/wɪðˈaʊt ə flˈɪkɚ/
fixed phrase
No visible sign of emotion or reaction
Not showing any feeling or change in expression.
Examples
- He listened without a flicker as they told him the bad news.
- She watched without a flicker while the scene unfolded.