Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for flashing. Search instead for unleashing.
Synonyms

flashing

American  
[flash-ing] / ˈflæʃ ɪŋ /

noun

  1. Building Trades. pieces of sheet metal or the like used to cover and protect certain joints and angles, as where a roof comes in contact with a wall or chimney, especially against leakage.

  2. the act of creating an artificial flood in a conduit or stream, as in a sewer for cleansing it.

  3. Photography, Movies. the process of increasing film speed by exposing undeveloped film briefly to a weak light source before using it or of exposing photographic printing paper to reduce contrast.

flashing British  
/ ˈflæʃɪŋ /

noun

  1. a weatherproof material, esp thin sheet metal, used to cover the valleys between the slopes of a roof, the junction between a chimney and a roof, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • interflashing noun
  • unflashing adjective

Etymology

Origin of flashing

First recorded in 1775–85; flash + -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With the worst memories of his childhood flashing through his mind, Enchassi got behind the wheel of his pickup truck—he still had to go to the bank to make that deposit.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

As the UN Secretary General António Guterres has put it, "every key climate indicator is flashing red".

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

The blue-haired singer leaped onto the stage — wearing a short poofy dress and tall boots — accompanied by a drummer and a multi-instrumentalist with a lot of flashing lights.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Roland added that the bond market isn’t necessarily flashing signs of impending doom in private credit either.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

If my body had a control panel, every single warning light would be lit up and flashing.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.