flag

A piece of cloth with colors or a design, used to represent a country or group or send signals.

• They raised the flag at sunrise.
• Children waved flags beside the road.
• A red flag warned swimmers to stay out of the sea.

Similar words: banner

Common phrases: national flag, raise a flag, wave a flag

A design of colors and shapes that represents a country, organization, or group.

• The flag of Italy has three colors.
• She drew the flag on her notebook.
• The website displays a small flag beside each country’s name.

How to use it: flag of something (The flag of Japan has a red circle.)

Common phrases: national flag, flag design, flag of something

A stored value in a computer that records whether something is true or whether an action is needed.

• The program checks a flag before saving.
• Set the flag to true when the task finishes.
• These flags record whether each file has changed.

Similar words: indicator

Common phrases: set a flag, boolean flag, status flag

An option added to a computer command to change what it does.

• Add the help flag to see the instructions.
• This flag makes the command print more details.
• Which flags should I use to list hidden files?

Similar words: option, switch

Common phrases: command flag, help flag, add a flag

A signal made with a piece of cloth to start a race or another event.

• The runners moved at the flag.
• Wait for the flag before you start.
• At the flag, all six cars raced forward.

Similar words: start signal

Common phrases: at the flag, drop the flag

A ship’s banner showing an admiral is aboard; sometimes the admiral or their ship.

• The admiral’s flag flew above the ship.
• The vessel carried the flag during the naval exercise.
• The captain welcomed the flag aboard before the fleet departed.

Common phrases: admiral’s flag, fly a flag, flag aboard

To mark something so people notice it or know it needs attention.

• Please flag the important pages.
• I flagged the message so I could find it later.
• The editor flags passages that need further research.

How to use it: flag something for something (Please flag this document for review.)

Similar words: mark, highlight

Common phrases: flag something, flag for review, flag important messages

To point out or signal that something has happened or needs attention.

• The software flagged an error.
• The report flags several problems with the plan.
• Her bank flagged an unusual payment yesterday.

How to use it: flag something as something (The system flagged the payment as suspicious.)

Similar words: identify, signal, highlight

Common phrases: flag an error, flag a problem, flag something as something