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
Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
And thanks to the missiles soaring over the Middle East, many long-distance flights now have longer routings, burning more fuel, as airlines try to avoid flying over some very unfriendly skies.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Jamie Lendino, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in the open wounds and orifices of live animals, including humans.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Unlike Apollo missions, Artemis II will fly past the lunar surface without stopping, testing spacecraft systems along the way and gathering data to inform future lunar exploration.
—Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
And thanks to the missiles soaring over the Middle East, many long-distance flights now have longer routings, burning more fuel, as airlines try to avoid flying over some very unfriendly skies.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
Dragging and dropping on-the-fly Voice Memo recordings of your latest idea into GarageBand works well, too.
—Jamie Lendino, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in the open wounds and orifices of live animals, including humans.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
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The bank expects oil prices will hover around $100 a barrel for the rest of the year – and could go even higher if the Strait of Hormuz’s closure continues to disrupt energy supplies.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
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Video from the rescue shows the helicopter descending near the Seneca River and then hovering over the water, where the dog is struggling to keep its head above the surface.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the third inning Rocker was faced with runners on the corners with Spencer Steer up to bat with two outs, and Rocker retired the left fielder in three pitches, ending with a ground out to third base to escape the inning with no damage.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
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Angels reliever Chase Silseth escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the seventh.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Under-4s are also welcome to use the Kids Only facilities with adult supervision, and all kinds of baby products and equipment are provided so parents can travel light.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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Police said it was believed the driver initiated the right turn and hit the bicyclist, a 69-year-old man from Joliet, believed to have been traveling eastbound on the sidewalk on the south side of West Jefferson Street and had entered the roadway to cross Springfield Avenue.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One occupant fled outside, while the other tried to fight the blaze, the department said.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
This reform hasn’t fixed California’s cost-of-living issues or kept people from fleeing.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The deputy gang narrative was a political campaign created to discredit my administration, never used during the McDonnell era, and mysteriously disappeared during the current administration.—
Opinion Staff,
Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Predators disappeared, resulting in an explosion in deer, further degrading the woodlands and peatlands.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 2020, the Legislature passed a law barring trans women and girls from participating in women’s and girls sports.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The measure passed, 363–117, killing the death penalty in France.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The show uses oil-on-canvas matte paintings, paintbrush strokes on glass panes, and even live-action, practical models for some of the spaceships.—
Rafael Motamayor,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2026
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Big Chief Demond and his wife Alicia, meticulous as surgeons, sew beads the size of chia seeds on a canvas and stitch rhinestones in place with dental floss — painting with beads — making artwork for his suit.—
Nichole Marks,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lexington businessman Nate Morris and former Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the other two Republican Senate race frontrunners, are also planing to be in attendance.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Mar. 2026
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Conditions will remain dangerous through the weekend, and people need to plane carefully and be conservative when selecting terrain, according to the CAIC.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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