aviate

verb

avi·​ate ˈā-vē-ˌāt How to pronounce aviate (audio) ˈa- How to pronounce aviate (audio)
aviated; aviating

intransitive verb

: to navigate the air (as in an airplane)

Examples of aviate in a Sentence

once humankind learned how to aviate, the world became a much smaller place
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Excitement over the Pilots’ decade-spanning narrative’s final installment, combined with the variety of available physical editions and a relatively slow release week, could result in the duo once again aviating its way to the Billboard 200’s apex. Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from aviation

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aviate was in 1887

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aviate. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!