flaked; flaking
1
: to separate into flakes
also
: to peel in flakes
2
or flake out informal
: to fail or neglect to do or participate in something previously scheduled, agreed upon, or assigned
He'd disappear, then text, disappear, and then text again. So it's not particularly surprising that when we finally made plans to meet he flaked without a word.—
Kerensa Cadenas
Kerensa CadenasMy brother isn't the type to flake out without warning.—D. Morgan Ballmer
—often used with onD. Morgan BallmerFlake on your friends too often and pretty soon your only friends will be Dharma and Greg.—Colleen Rush
Colleen RushLet's get him to sign his name to that before he flakes out on you!—Rhoda Janzen
Rhoda Janzen
: a stage, platform, or tray for drying fish or produce
Synonyms
Examples of flake in a Sentence
Verb
Bake the fish until it flakes easily when tested with a fork.
Recent Examples on the WebKeith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
In a medium-size bowl mix red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon basil, oregano and pepper.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024
Wash flakes down the drain by lathering up with the Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024
Combine the lemon juice, ½ cup olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and red pepper flakes in a large bowl, then whisk to combine.
—Sam Sifton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Forecast in detail Rain chances that will focus on this afternoon and evening may be the last significant precipitation chance for about a week — a few stray drops or flakes can’t be totally ruled out before then.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
The Company will continue to explore graphite opportunities that show the potential to produce the specific flake size and purity required for active anodes.
—Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and more red-pepper flakes, if desired.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2024
Great additions would be lemon juice and lemon zest, lemon pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, onion powder and everything bagel seasoning.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024
Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Some of the figures and trackways are severely damaged due to flaking of the rock.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Flare-ups of these inflammatory diseases go beyond everyday tightness and flaking.
—Jessica Cruel, SELF, 3 Oct. 2023
To check for doneness, use a sharp knife to cut into the thickest part of the meat; when cooked, the flesh will start to pull apart and almost flake.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024
And water temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit could send the animals into cold stress, a condition in which the tail or fins don’t receive enough blood, and patches of skin might flake off.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2024
These products can damage your skin barrier and worsen dryness, flaking, redness, and acne.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The water’s surface is flaked with ashes; ceremonial flowers linger in the eddies.
—Oliver Franklin-Wallis, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
As its name suggests, the Brow Freeze Gel has a lighter, more fluid gel consistency to minimize flaking and create a softer, more natural finish to your eyebrows.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 11 Jan. 2024
Noun
Here, chunky golden nuggets of silken tofu are coated in corn scratch and lightly fried before being placed in a shallow pool of broth made from dashi, soy sauce and sweet mirin then topped with bonito flakes, spicy radish sprouts and ginger.
—Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
In a medium-size bowl mix red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon basil, oregano and pepper.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024
Wash flakes down the drain by lathering up with the Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024
Combine the lemon juice, ½ cup olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and red pepper flakes in a large bowl, then whisk to combine.
—Sam Sifton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Forecast in detail Rain chances that will focus on this afternoon and evening may be the last significant precipitation chance for about a week — a few stray drops or flakes can’t be totally ruled out before then.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
The Company will continue to explore graphite opportunities that show the potential to produce the specific flake size and purity required for active anodes.
—Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and more red-pepper flakes, if desired.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2024
Great additions would be lemon juice and lemon zest, lemon pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, onion powder and everything bagel seasoning.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
Why do mobile networks flake during temporary surges in use?
Phone companies have spent a fortune, especially in the past five years, expanding and modernizing mobile networks, including for sudden spikes of mobile use.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Some of the figures and trackways are severely damaged due to flaking of the rock.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Flare-ups of these inflammatory diseases go beyond everyday tightness and flaking.
—Jessica Cruel, SELF, 3 Oct. 2023
To check for doneness, use a sharp knife to cut into the thickest part of the meat; when cooked, the flesh will start to pull apart and almost flake.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024
And water temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit could send the animals into cold stress, a condition in which the tail or fins don’t receive enough blood, and patches of skin might flake off.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2024
These products can damage your skin barrier and worsen dryness, flaking, redness, and acne.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The water’s surface is flaked with ashes; ceremonial flowers linger in the eddies.
—Oliver Franklin-Wallis, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
As its name suggests, the Brow Freeze Gel has a lighter, more fluid gel consistency to minimize flaking and create a softer, more natural finish to your eyebrows.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 11 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near flake
Cite this Entry
“Flake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flake. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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