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
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.
Recent Examples of fly
Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
There’s a fly in Powell’s ointment, however.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
As the Tom Ford brand enters a new era, with designer Haider Ackermann at the helm, Aniston is still flying the flag.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Most launches from Vandenberg fly at a south or southeast trajectory.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
There’s a fly in Powell’s ointment, however.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
The source added that Vance will fly Kirk's casket from Utah to Arizona aboard Air Force Two.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
As the Tom Ford brand enters a new era, with designer Haider Ackermann at the helm, Aniston is still flying the flag.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
-
Parents who hover too closely — always ready to smooth the path, to shield from discomfort — may unintentionally rob their children of the chance to develop resilience.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
No more hovering at the oven door.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Most want to see better protections and less exploitation of fighters so that they are exposed to the least amount of danger in a sport that cannot escape it.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Cutting an image that contrasted with Ali’s more libertine act, Frazier traveled with his family, including his teenage son, Marvis, an aspiring boxer himself.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Following its defeat by Communist Party forces in the Chinese Civil War, the Chinese Nationalist movement, led by Chiang Kai-shek, fled to the island in 1949 as a government in exile.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In six months, the site has grown from 600 people fleeing gang attacks in nearby Delmas 30 to 5,000 people from all over the capital, sheltering in packed government offices and makeshift shacks.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But before long his hearing begins to disappear, leading him down a panicked trail of denial, anger and desperation.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Normally that motion disappears without a trace, but a growing field of research aims to capture it and turn it into electricity for sensors, wearable devices and other small electronics.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Army soldiers, even those in non-combat jobs or those who lack previous firearms experience, must pass a rifle marksmanship test that includes targets as far as 325 yards away after mere days of training.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Two games in, though, the Packers have passed both tests with flying colors.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Magellano’s Dual Mode Hull, a signature feature that has been on the vessels since the series started, is a semi-planing hull with a vertical bow.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Besides the Cool Springs location, the brand is also planing to open stores at Opry Mills and West Town Mall in Knoxville this fall.—
Gabrielle Chenault,
The Tennessean,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Elsewhere, a strange new trend has started, seeing users stitch together clips of Jeremiah from various episodes into horror film-like videos, driving home the message that this is not just another cute, curly-haired college student but a malevolent Disney villain.—
Olivia Petter,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Discover the fascinating economics driving billion-dollar industries.—
thehustle.co,
thehustle.co,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share