Irregular verb
The verb to fling
fling → flung → flung
B2Meaning: to throw something hard and fast · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they fling·he/she/it flings - Past Simple:
flung(i → u) - Past participle:
flung(the same) - -ing form:
flinging
Conjugation of the verb to fling
Present Simple
| I | fling |
| You | fling |
| He / She / It | flings |
| We | fling |
| You (pl.) | fling |
| They | fling |
Past Simple
| I | flung |
| You | flung |
| He / She / It | flung |
| We | flung |
| You (pl.) | flung |
| They | flung |
All the forms of the verb to fling
Present Simple
Full pagefling / flings
“He flings the ball.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are flinging
“I am flinging the ball right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageflung
“She flung the door open.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were flinging
“I was flinging the ball when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has flung
“I have already flung the ball.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad flung
“She had already flung the ball when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill fling
“I will fling the ball tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to fling
“I'm going to fling the ball this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould fling
“I would fling the ball if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to fling
1. Throwing with force
- He flung the ball over the fence.
2. Throwing yourself
Fling yourself (dictionary form: fling oneself) means to jump or move suddenly, with energy.
- She flung herself onto the bed.
3. A fling (noun) = a short romance
A brief fling is a short romantic relationship that is not serious.
- They had a brief fling.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Flinged ❌
Fling is irregular, like cling → clung: fling → flung → flung. She flung open the door.
2. Fling ≠ flick
Fling = to throw with force. Flick = to move something with a quick, small movement of your finger: She flicked the crumbs off the table. The words sound alike, but their meanings are very different.
What's next?
You can conjugate to fling. Now say it out loud.
This page explained everything. On PLAY, you practise this verb out loud in 3 minutes, until it comes naturally.
Practise to fling on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersReady-made activities to practise to fling in class
The Academy offers self-marking exercises and progress tracking for each student: your class practises, and you see who has got it and who needs more help.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
English contestConjugating to fling is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of fling?+
The Past Simple of fling is flung. The past participle is also flung. Fling → flung → flung. Other verbs with i → u: cling → clung, sting → stung, swing → swung.
What is the difference between fling and throw?+
Throw is the normal, neutral word. Fling means to throw hard, fast or carelessly, often with a strong feeling (anger, excitement, joy). He threw the ball (calm). He flung the book at the wall (angry).
What does a fling mean?+
As a noun, a fling usually means a short romantic relationship that is not serious: a summer fling. It can also mean a throw, in sport. The romantic meaning is the most common: They had a brief fling.
What does fling yourself mean?+
Fling yourself means to jump or move suddenly and with energy. She flung herself onto the bed. It can also mean to start doing something with a lot of energy: He flung himself into his work.
What does fling open mean?+
Fling open means to open something suddenly and with force. She flung open the door. He flung open the curtains. It is a sudden, energetic action.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/fling
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.