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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fly
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 2 July 2025
Raising hundreds of millions of flies In one sense, raising a large colony of flies is relatively easy, said Cassandra Olds, an assistant professor of entomology at Kansas State University.
—CBS News, 2 July 2025
Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025
Those who could not get inside, live in mobile homes or were in a car were advised to move to the nearest substantial shelter to protect themselves from flying debris.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Keep insects, flies, and maggots from infesting his body.
Clean and inspect their premises for insect infestation.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 2 July 2025
Raising hundreds of millions of flies In one sense, raising a large colony of flies is relatively easy, said Cassandra Olds, an assistant professor of entomology at Kansas State University.
—CBS News, 2 July 2025
Noun
American Airlines flies directly from Miami to Beef Island.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025
Those who could not get inside, live in mobile homes or were in a car were advised to move to the nearest substantial shelter to protect themselves from flying debris.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
-
Gas prices are hovering near their lowest summer level in four years as millions of people ready themselves to hit the roads over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
3 July 2025
-
Temperatures are expected to hover around the freezing point or below until Friday when it's expected to reach 41 degrees.—
Cameron Knight,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
For more than two decades, a special team of Mexican police officers has quietly worked along the northern border to track down and deport foreign fugitives who cross into Mexico to escape criminal charges in their home countries.—
Time,
Time,
9 July 2025
-
Tanya Ramsey's brother and mother were staying in a cabin 100 yards away, and Jeff Ramsey's call to them gave them enough time to escape, Jake Ramsey said.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
After all, snowmobiles can’t smell seals or polar bears, nor travel quietly enough to avoid scaring off potential prey.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
10 July 2025
-
Like the name suggests, these mule sneakers are easy to wear and travel in.—
Hillary Maglin,
Travel + Leisure,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Simmons is then accused of carjacking a vehicle from someone who was at the medical facility and fleeing the scene.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
-
Days later, Leyva reportedly fled to Madrid, citing concerns for his personal safety.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
While the boldest headlines tell how people are literally snatched off the streets, are being disappeared to foreign prisons, news that often receives less attention reveals that our civil liberties are also being snatched up, one by one.—
Michael Pfleger,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
-
The man formerly known as Robert Prevost has somewhat disappeared ...—
Michael Brendan Dougherty,
National Review,
29 June 2025
Verb
-
Vance joined the holdouts for another round of talks that cleared the way for the motion to pass.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
29 June 2025
-
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until this storm passes.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
Mamdani’s 14-mile walk this week of Manhattan, in scorching heat, evoked the neighborhood canvasses of John Lindsay, the liberal crusader whose budget priorities contributed to the city’s 1970s fiscal crisis.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
24 June 2025
-
But many felt that Roach was deserving of the victory after Davis, nicknamed Tank, opted to put his knee to the canvass in the ninth round.—
George Ramsay,
CNN,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
All this culminates in a debut album, Addison, that planes down contemporary pop influences into an ooze of familiarity, faintly evoking innovations in underground and alternative music without stepping out of its playlist-friendly lane.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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