1
as in to hover
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings
the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
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2
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to travel
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to flee
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to disappear
to cease to be visible
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to pass
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the familiar "Because I said so!" is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fly
Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2025
Packing sunglasses is important for keeping the flies and mosquitoes out of your eyes on the trail, as well as shielding your eyes from the blaring Como sun.
—Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2025
Sam Brief, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
On May 9, she was flown to Texas through the Alexandria airport; the next day, she was driven to Mexico in a caravan of buses with other deportees.
—Brent McDonald, New York Times, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Judge winced during a game Tuesday in Toronto after catching Alejandro Kirk’s seventh-inning fly in the right-field corner and throwing to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. as Dante Bichette tagged up and went from second to third.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2025
Packing sunglasses is important for keeping the flies and mosquitoes out of your eyes on the trail, as well as shielding your eyes from the blaring Como sun.
—Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2025
Noun
Holder Hugh Robertson handled the snap cleanly, and Olano’s kick flew between the goal posts.
—Sam Brief, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
On May 9, she was flown to Texas through the Alexandria airport; the next day, she was driven to Mexico in a caravan of buses with other deportees.
—Brent McDonald, New York Times, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
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Their postseason odds that year were hovering around 20 percent at the time, and the team proceeded to lose the next seven games after the deadline en route to a 73-89 season.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
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Today, Baker’s market cap is hovering near $45 billion.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
29 July 2025
Verb
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If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Aug. 2025
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Playing their third road game in five days, the expansion team nearly fumbled a 17-point, first-half lead but got enough stops down the stretch to escape with a 68-67 win over the Washington Mystics on Thursday.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As the investigation continues, New York State Police are asking for the public's help in gathering additional video evidence or eyewitness accounts of the silver car the father and daughter traveled in from July 11 until July 19 on I-87, per the press release.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
22 July 2025
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The ball then traveled a little farther up and appeared to hit Suzuki in a particularly painful part of his body.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Villagers flee their homes near the Thai border in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province on July 25, 2025.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
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Yang’s deportation to Laos – a country her parents were forced to flee following US military intervention – underscores the sweeping and aggressive tactics Trump’s White House is using to expel immigrants.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Winter's influence in deeper waters is also disappearing, with shifts in fall overturn and winter cooling that could impact the lake's ecosystem.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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Acute hives might pop up in one spot and disappear within a few hours, only to show up somewhere else.—
Chloe Castleberry,
Flow Space,
23 July 2025
Verb
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That legislation went through a nearly year-long debate, with committees in the House and Senate both holding several hearings and amending the legislation before it was ultimately passed in Nov. 2023.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
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At the time of her passing, Winehouse's blood alcohol level was more than five times over the legal limit.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Detectives were at the scene on June 22 to canvass and interview witnesses, the sheriff's office said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
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Officers conducted a canvass of the area and located the suspect, identified as 63-year-old Jeffrey Nicholson of Newark, New Jersey, lying on the ground in a yard on Meadow Street, according to police.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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At that time, one of his attorneys told News Channel 5 that Moreland planed to take a job outside of the legal profession, following his 2019 disbarment, and stay out of the public eye.—
Hadley Hitson,
The Tennessean,
17 July 2025
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Our ruling The Republican Party of Juneau County claimed on Facebook that planes full of unvetted refugees were being accepted to the Milwaukee and Madison airports.—
Sophie Carson,
Journal Sentinel,
3 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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