flagging

¹ American  

[flag-ing] / ˈflæg ɪŋ /

adjective

1. becoming smaller or weaker; dwindling.

2. weak, fatigued, or drooping.

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flagging ² American  

[flag-ing] / ˈflæg ɪŋ /

noun

1. flagstones collectively.

2. a pavement or walk of flagstones.

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flagging British  

/ ˈflæɡɪŋ /

noun

1. flagstones or a flagged area

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Other Word Forms

• flaggingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of flagging¹

First recorded in 1535–45; flag ³ + -ing ²

Origin of flagging²

First recorded in 1615–25; flag ⁴ + -ing ¹

Explanation

If something is flagging, it's worn out or weak. A flagging political campaign is running out of steam, losing the energy it needs to be successful. If your career is flagging, it's languishing or fading — you might need to go back to school and start a new one. Flagging public support for a new school might spell the end of the project. A different kind of flagging is the sort you walk on. If your patio is made of flagging, it's paved in stones — flagstones, to be specific. The "weakened" meaning of flagging comes from an early meaning of flag, "to flap about loosely."

Example Sentences

Their meeting was quickly interrupted by a message in the Microsoft Teams chat flagging that Nutella was in outer space.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Notes from school nurses flagging that a child failed a vision screening may also get lost in a backpack on the way home, educators say.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

But after flagging the fan to security staff, the singer became impatient at what he saw as a lack of urgency.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

Those efforts matter, but flagging suspect bets is not the same as figuring out the facts.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Torak seized his chance and hoisted the flagging cub in his arms.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• dwindling
• fading
• listless
• sagging
• slumping
• waning
• weakening