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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fly
Ben Standig, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
SeaWorld Orlando delays Expedition Odyssey ride’s debut by a week
Previews for the flying theater-style attraction also were pushed back.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2025
Adam Levine, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Plus, the faux fly detailing gives the pants a sophisticated flair that can easily be dressed up or down.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Conerly and several family members flew from Seattle to the other Washington.
—Ben Standig, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
SeaWorld Orlando delays Expedition Odyssey ride’s debut by a week
Previews for the flying theater-style attraction also were pushed back.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
Your brain is wired to imagine bold futures (prefrontal cortex), pursue meaningful challenge (dopamine), adapt on the fly (neuroplasticity) and thrive on uncertainty (evolutionary reward circuits).
—Adam Levine, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Plus, the faux fly detailing gives the pants a sophisticated flair that can easily be dressed up or down.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
-
Uncertainty still hovers over Bryce Huff, a splash signing in 2024.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
From a terminal far out of harm’s way, drone pilots could hover in the sky for hours, soaking up surveillance information, building a case for precisely whom to bomb and when to do it.—
Colin Jones,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Apr. 2025
-
No one was harmed during the incident, and the suspect escaped.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Curiosity has traveled over 21 miles from its landing site since 2012, and has obtained multiple drill site samples from layers of Martian sediment beneath it.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Families now must travel often far distances for their children’s youth sports competitions, which can be costly.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Fellow dictatorships including Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, and Iran lined up behind Maduro while Gonzalez fled the country during the reign of state terror against dissidents that followed the election.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
20 Apr. 2025
-
April 19: McVeigh parks the truck outside the federal building and flees on foot to his getaway car.—
Todd Pendleton,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
After Norman disappeared, Zizz borrowed a friend's vehicle and left the area.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
-
If gate donations continue to decline, street festivals will continue to shrink or simply disappear.—
Pamela Maass,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
These engines, which the team says can carry safe and nontoxic propellant, work by the spacecraft passing an electric current through water to create stores of high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Anyone passing through town is likely here for two reasons: Lost Maples State Natural Area and Garner State Park.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While early voting and mail-in ballots received before Election Day are processed and posted on election night, vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day, along with provisional ballots, are counted during the official canvass period within 30 days after the election.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2025
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The decline comes as Democrats’ ideological wings fight over the best tactics to counter Trump, which, combined with raw political ambition, makes the emerging Democratic 2028 field a wide-open electoral canvass.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In October it was revealed that Good Omens, the Prime Video drama series based on the book Gaiman co-wrote with Terry Pratchett, will end with one 90-minute episode instead of a full third season as originally planed, with Gaiman exiting his creative role on the project.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2025
-
In October it was revealed that Good Omens, the Prime Video drama series based on the book Gaiman co-wrote with Terry Pratchett, will end with one 90-minute episode instead of a full third season as originally planed, with Gaiman exiting his creative role on the project.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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