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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026
Mosquito coils are essentially rolls of incense infused with citronella that slowly releases the scent to deter flying insects.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
The system acts as an agent, building investment screens and producing full research reports, including sophisticated financial modeling and bull and bear cases for a particular stocks, on the fly.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Like Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines is planning a heavier lander after flying a smaller vehicle on its first few missions to the Moon.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026
Mosquito coils are essentially rolls of incense infused with citronella that slowly releases the scent to deter flying insects.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Noun
Facing left-hander Jovani Moran in the fifth, the Blue Jays tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth, on an RBI single by George Springer and sac-fly by Myles Straw.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
The system acts as an agent, building investment screens and producing full research reports, including sophisticated financial modeling and bull and bear cases for a particular stocks, on the fly.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
-
So every draft really did hover around that range of 90 and 100 pages.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In the 1960s, when Mellencamp was coming of age, Jackson County, which includes his hometown Seymour, hovered around thirty-one thousand residents, with about 1 percent of that population composed of Black families.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But, though the guns of war were a decade in the past, the nation had not escaped the spectre of conflict.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The show follows a couple who accidentally wander into Schmigadoon, a town where every day is a musical and the only bridge to escape leads to nowhere.—
Caroline Killilea,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
In 2026, the Eta Aquarid peak will occur overnight on May 5-6, as Earth travels through the densest part of Halley's debris stream.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
The club said the victims of the private aircraft crash were Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala, Stacy Hedrick, Glen Appling and Hayden Dillard, who were traveling to a tournament.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
One of the drivers involved fled the scene on foot before first-responders arrived, according to authorities.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
The driver fled, and deputies followed.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The expectation of even a modicum of diversity within the halls of government could disappear quickly.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
-
The master plan hopes to significantly reduce that amount, curbing the region’s needs for disappearing landfill space.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The City Council passed the item by unanimous vote and without discussion.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Mets will reassess after 10 days have passed.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cole’s canvases were synthetic constructions teeming with homilies.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
As the water evaporates, the artwork disappears, leaving a blank canvas ready for next time.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
And in recent years, a new crop of miners driven by rising gold prices have sought to return to the landscape.—
Sarah Raza,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
Further, the tax disincentivizes success, weakens California’s standing as a hub for innovation, and demonizes the wealthy – all of which erode investment, drive economic activity elsewhere, and are ultimately incompatible with America’s capitalist roots.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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