flexing

Flexing is the deliberate tensing of muscles to display strength, size, or definition, or to perform a joint action.

In fitness and bodybuilding, flexing is used during poses to highlight muscle groups such as the biceps, chest, shoulders, and abdomen. It often involves isometric contractions or short, controlled movements that reveal muscular control and symmetry.

In everyday language, flexing also describes showing off or ostentatiously displaying one's abilities or wealth. This slang usage is common on social media and can be neutral, playful, or pejorative depending on context.

Safety and technique: like any muscular action, flexing should follow proper warm-up and breathing. Prolonged posing can raise blood pressure or cause fatigue, so it should be done in moderation as part of a balanced training routine.

Etymology and scope: the verb derives from contracting muscles; in biomechanics, flexion refers to bending a joint, a related but distinct concept.

See also: muscle contraction, bodybuilding, posing, slang terms for bragging.