To flit means to move quickly and lightly from one place to another, often making many brief stops along the way. A butterfly flits from flower to flower, touching down for just a moment before moving on. A hummingbird flits between blossoms so fast your eyes can barely follow it.

People can flit too. Someone might flit around a party, chatting briefly with different groups of friends without settling in one spot. A student's attention might flit from one thing to another during a boring lecture, landing on the clock, then a bird outside, then a neighbor's pencil tapping.

The word captures a particular kind of movement: quick, light, and restless. Flitting combines speed with an airy, almost carefree quality, like something barely touching down before taking off again. When you picture something flitting, you might imagine delicate wings or dancing steps, not heavy stomping or determined striding. The movement feels effortless and graceful, though it can sometimes suggest a lack of focus when describing how someone approaches a task.