flagged
flagged — verb
1. to put a special mark, symbol, or note on something so that other people will se
to put a special mark, symbol, or note on something so that other people will see it later and pay extra attention to it
Esteban flagged the email from his landlord so he would remember to reply that evening.
flag + noun (digital item) for later attention
Yael's bank account was flagged as suspicious after three late-night transfers to a foreign address.
passive: be flagged as + adjective
Please flag any chapter you find confusing, and Stephanie will discuss it at the next book-club meeting.
imperative inviting action from a reader
The spell-checker flagged six words in Talia's essay that did not appear in its dictionary.
software/system subject flagging items
Lukas flagged two safety problems in the report and asked the supervisor to read them first.
flag + concrete issue + ask follow-up
- flag an email
- flag an account
- flag a problem
- flag as suspicious
- flag for review
Grammar Patterns
flag + noun
flag + noun + as + adjective
be flagged as + adjective
Usage Note
Frequently passive. Object is usually an item in a list, document, account, or message — never a person directly. Distinct from sense 2 (signal): sense 1 leaves a mark for later; sense 2 communicates in real time.
Common Mistakes
2. to wave or hold up something — often a piece of fabric or your arm — to tell a v
to wave or hold up something — often a piece of fabric or your arm — to tell a vehicle to stop or to send a message across a distance
Standing at the edge of the road in heavy rain, Kemi tried to flag a passing taxi.
flag + vehicle (often + down)
The race official flagged the leading car as it crossed the finish line for the third time.
official signalling across distance
Takeshi waved his red shirt above his head, trying to flag the search helicopter circling the valley.
improvised flag in an emergency
A worker stood at the building site and flagged each delivery truck into the correct loading bay.
directing vehicles by signal
- flag a taxi
- flag a car
- flag down a bus
- flag a helicopter
Grammar Patterns
flag + noun
flag + noun + down
Usage Note
Often appears as the phrasal verb 'flag down' when stopping a vehicle. Subject is usually a person on foot or stationary; object is a moving vehicle, aircraft, or sometimes a distant person.
3. in American football and some other sports, when an official throws a small yell
in American football and some other sports, when an official throws a small yellow cloth onto the field to show that a player or team has broken a rule and must lose ground or points
Walid was flagged for holding during the second quarter, costing the Eagles ten yards.
be flagged for + offence noun
The referee flagged the defensive tackle for a late hit on the quarterback.
official subject + player object
Chicago was flagged three times in the opening drive, handing Green Bay an easy touchdown.
team passive form
If Tyler keeps grabbing jerseys after the whistle, he will get flagged every single play.
conditional consequence framing
- flagged for holding
- flagged for a foul
- flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct
Grammar Patterns
flag + player/team
be flagged for + noun
Usage Note
Almost always passive ('was flagged for…'). Strongly tied to American football and similar field sports; readers outside that culture may need the context spelled out.
4. if your energy, spirits, attention, or a conversation flags, it becomes weaker,
if your energy, spirits, attention, or a conversation flags, it becomes weaker, slower, or less interesting after being strong before — for example, runners flag in the final mile, or interest in a TV show flags after season three
Christopher's energy began to flag around the twentieth kilometre of the marathon.
physical energy as subject
Viewer interest in Romi's documentary series flagged sharply after the third episode aired.
abstract subject (interest) + adverb (sharply)
Conversation around the dinner table began to flag once the host left to fetch dessert.
conversation as subject
By the third hour of Professor Wei's lecture on tax law, even the best students' attention had flagged.
attention as subject + perfect tense
Reuben's spirits flagged when the rain returned just as the picnic was being set out.
spirits as subject + trigger event
- energy flags
- interest flags
- attention flags
- conversation flags
- spirits flag
Grammar Patterns
[subject = energy/spirits/attention/conversation] + flag
Usage Note
Intransitive only. Subject is almost always an abstract noun (energy, spirits, interest, attention, enthusiasm, conversation, sales) rather than a person or physical object. Common in writing about sport, business, and entertainment.
Common Mistakes
5. to cover a path, courtyard, or floor with flagstones — flat slabs of stone laid
to cover a path, courtyard, or floor with flagstones — flat slabs of stone laid side by side to make a hard, even surface to walk on
The narrow lane behind the church was flagged with smooth grey slate from the local quarry.
be flagged with + stone type
Workers had spent the whole summer flagging the courtyard around the new library.
progressive tense + object (open area)
Walid asked the builder to flag the garden path rather than pour concrete.
choosing flag over concrete
Inside the old farmhouse, the kitchen floor was flagged with thick blocks of sandstone.
interior floor + stone material
- flagged with stone
- flagged courtyard
- flag a path
- flag a floor
Grammar Patterns
flag + noun (surface)
be flagged with + noun
Usage Note
Rare in everyday speech; mostly in writing about architecture, gardens, or older buildings. Often passive, with 'with + stone material' giving the surface detail.
flag down
phrasal verbto wave your hand or an object so that the driver of a passing vehicle sees you and stops to pick you up or help
Standing in the cold drizzle, Pim managed to flag down a passing taxi after twenty minutes.
We flagged down a police car when we realised the road ahead was completely blocked by a fallen tree.
flag up
phrasal verbto formally point out a problem, question, or risk so that the people who need to know about it can deal with it
Élise flagged up the budget shortfall in her weekly email so the director could act before payroll.
Several teachers flagged up concerns about the new timetable at the staff meeting on Monday.
flagged — noun
1. a coloured piece of cloth, normally fixed to a pole or rope, whose design stands
a coloured piece of cloth, normally fixed to a pole or rope, whose design stands for a country, organisation, or shared idea
At dawn, the flag of the Republic was raised slowly above the school playground.
the flag of + country
Crowds along the parade route waved small paper flags as the athletes marched past.
wave + flag (handheld)
Out of respect for the lost firefighters, every flag in the town was lowered to half-mast.
flag lowered to half-mast (mourning)
A bright red flag with a gold star fluttered above the old fortress on the hill.
describing colours and design
Nora's grandfather had folded the army flag carefully and stored it inside a cedar box.
named subject + ceremonial handling
- national flag
- raise a flag
- lower a flag
- wave a flag
- flag flies
Grammar Patterns
the flag of + country/organization
raise/lower/wave + flag
Usage Note
Most common everyday meaning. Often appears with verbs of vertical movement (raise, lower, hoist) and motion (wave, fly, flutter). When the flag stands for a country, English usually says 'the flag of [Country]' or '[Country]'s flag'.
2. a coloured piece of cloth used to send a specific message at a sports event, on
a coloured piece of cloth used to send a specific message at a sports event, on a beach, at sea, or on a building site — for example, a red flag warning swimmers to stay out of the water
A bright yellow flag warned visitors that strong currents were running off the eastern beach that morning.
[colour] flag + warning content
The marshal waved the chequered flag as the leading car crossed the finish line.
chequered flag — racing convention
Workers at the construction site posted a red flag whenever blasting was scheduled for the afternoon.
flag as a safety message at a worksite
Climbers carry a small orange flag in their pack so a rescue helicopter can spot them from far above.
portable signal flag in mountaineering
- red flag
- yellow flag
- chequered flag
- white flag
- raise the flag
Grammar Patterns
[colour] flag
the [event] flag
Usage Note
Distinguished from sense 1 by purpose: a signal flag carries an instant message (warning, start, stop) rather than identifying a country or group. The colour or pattern carries the meaning, so the colour word almost always precedes 'flag'.
3. any of several wetland plants with long, narrow, sword-shaped leaves and tall st
any of several wetland plants with long, narrow, sword-shaped leaves and tall stems carrying bright flowers — most commonly the yellow flag iris that grows beside ponds and slow streams
Yellow flags lined the shallow edge of the pond at the bottom of Hassan's garden.
[colour] flags lining water edge
By late May, the marsh was a sea of purple and yellow flags rising above the reeds.
habitat description (marsh)
The river warden warned that the wild flags along the stream were protected and could not be picked.
conservation context
Noor planted a row of blue flags beside the new garden pond last autumn.
[colour] flags planted by a pond (gardening)
- yellow flag
- wild flag
- sweet flag
- flag iris
- iris
the more familiar everyday name for the same plant family
- sweet flag
a specific marsh plant with sweetly scented roots — Acorus calamus
Grammar Patterns
[colour] flag
flag iris
Usage Note
Mostly found in nature writing, gardening guides, and place names like 'Flag Pond' or 'Flag Fen'. Almost never used in everyday conversation about plants — gardeners are more likely to say 'iris'.
4. a flat, square or rectangular piece of hard stone, laid alongside other pieces t
a flat, square or rectangular piece of hard stone, laid alongside other pieces to make a smooth surface for a path, terrace, or kitchen floor — also called a flagstone
The old York flags in the courtyard had been worn smooth by three centuries of footsteps.
named stone + age + wear
Daniel pulled up the loose flag at the back door and laid a new one in fresh mortar.
single flag + repair action
Heavy rain pooled in the dips between the kitchen flags every winter.
interior flags + drainage problem
A row of cracked grey flags led from the garden gate to the front door of the cottage.
describing path made of flags
- stone flag
- old flag
- lift a flag
- York flag
- flagstone
the fuller word — the most common everyday term
- paving slab
modern concrete equivalent; usually rectangular
- slab
more general — any flat piece of stone or concrete
Grammar Patterns
stone flag
old flags
Usage Note
More common in British English than American. Often interchangeable with 'flagstone'. Typically appears in writing about old houses, gardens, and traditional building work.
5. the long, bushy tail of certain dogs, such as setters and spaniels, or the white
the long, bushy tail of certain dogs, such as setters and spaniels, or the white underside of a deer's tail, which is shown clearly when the animal is alarmed or moving
The setter's chestnut flag swept the long grass behind her as she bounded across the field.
setter's flag (dog) + motion
Shirin spotted the white flag of a deer disappearing into the trees at the edge of the clearing.
white flag of a deer (alarm signal)
A good spaniel works close to its handler and shows a steady, low flag instead of a high-held tail.
judging dog by flag carriage
The English Setter judge looked for a long, well-feathered flag carried level with the back.
breed-standard description of flag
- white flag (of a deer)
- the flag of a setter
- low flag
- show the flag
- tail
the everyday word — used by everyone outside the specialist contexts above
Grammar Patterns
the flag of + animal
Usage Note
Specialist vocabulary used by hunters, dog trainers, and naturalists rather than everyday speakers. For a pet owner, 'tail' is the natural word.
6. in written music, the small curved hook attached to the stem of a note that tell
in written music, the small curved hook attached to the stem of a note that tells the player it lasts less time than one beat — one hook for an eighth note, two for a sixteenth, and so on
Two flags on the stem told Hiro that each note should be played as a sixteenth.
[count] flag(s) on a stem
Ritu showed her piano student how four flags in a row are normally joined into a single beam.
flags vs beams convention
Add one flag to the stem of each crotchet, and the line will sound twice as fast.
imperative explaining notation
The teacher circled the missing flag on Sofia's homework and reminded her to count beats.
marking a missing flag in notation homework
- a single flag
- two flags
- join the flags
- add a flag
Grammar Patterns
[number] flag(s)
add a flag to + note
Usage Note
Technical vocabulary from music notation. Outside music classes, music software documentation, and theory books, this sense rarely appears.
fly the flag
idiomto publicly show your support for a country, organization, or idea — often by representing it at an event abroad or by speaking up for it in public
Three young swimmers will fly the flag for our city at next month's national championships.
Marco was the only one in the office willing to fly the flag for the older, slower way of working.
keep the flag flying
idiomto keep representing or supporting a cause, group, or tradition even when it is difficult, unpopular, or no one else seems to care
After most of the original members moved away, Aaron kept the flag flying for the village book club almost single-handed.
The small bakery on the corner has kept the flag flying for traditional sourdough through three economic downturns.
a red flag
idioma sign that warns you something is wrong, dangerous, or dishonest, so that you should be careful or stop before going further
Three missed deadlines in the first month were a clear red flag about the new supplier's reliability.
Refusing to share a contact phone number is a serious red flag when you are renting a flat online.
flagged — adjective
1. describes a floor, path, or open area whose surface is made from flat slabs of s
describes a floor, path, or open area whose surface is made from flat slabs of stone laid side by side
A long flagged path wound between the rose beds toward the back gate of the manor.
flagged + path (outdoor route)
Inside the old farmhouse, a flagged kitchen floor stayed cool even on the hottest summer afternoons.
flagged + interior floor + thermal property
Children's footsteps echoed off the flagged courtyard outside the cathedral.
flagged + courtyard + acoustic detail
Emily slipped on the wet flagged terrace and bruised her elbow.
wet flagged surface (hazard)
- flagged floor
- flagged path
- flagged courtyard
- flagged terrace
- flagged hallway
- unpaved
having no hard surface — bare earth or gravel
Grammar Patterns
flagged + noun (floor/path/courtyard)
Usage Note
Only used before a noun (attributive). Almost always paired with words for surfaces a person can walk on: floor, path, courtyard, terrace, hallway. Common in writing about old or rural buildings.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four verbs describe making something stand out from the items around it so it gets attention later, but they differ in formality and what kind of attention you want. 'Mark' is the broadest and most neutral — you can mark a book, a homework error, or a calendar; it does not say why. 'Flag' suggests the person reading later should take action on the marked item, often because it looks wrong, suspicious, or important — banks flag suspicious accounts, editors flag passages for the writer to fix. 'Highlight' suggests the item should stand out visually for emphasis rather than for action — students highlight key sentences in a textbook so they can find them again. 'Tag' adds a categorical label so a system can sort or find items later — a photo app lets you tag faces. Compare: the moderator flagged Reuben's comment for review (action needed), highlighted three sentences in his post (visual emphasis), and tagged it as off-topic (label for sorting).
Common collocations
Nouns
- flag pole
- flag day
- national flag
Adverbs
- clearly flagged
- automatically flagged
- manually flagged
Phrases
- raise the flag
- lower the flag
- fly the flag
- wave the flag
Etymology
The verb 'flag' meaning 'lose energy' first appears in English in the late 1500s and is probably an imitative word — its sound suggests something hanging loose or drooping. The noun 'flag' for a piece of cloth used as a signal appeared a little later, possibly from the same root or from a Germanic word for something that flaps in the wind. The unrelated noun 'flag' for a paving stone is much older, borrowed from Old Norse 'flaga' meaning a slab of stone. Modern 'flagged' as a participle picks up the meaning of any of these verb senses, including the newer software sense (mark for attention), which spread in the late twentieth century with the rise of email and computer systems.