fledge

verb

ˈflej 

fledged; fledging

intransitive verb

of a young bird : to acquire the feathers necessary for flight or independent activity

also : to leave the nest after acquiring such feathers

transitive verb

1

: to rear until ready for flight or independent activity

2

: to cover with or as if with feathers or down

3

: to furnish (something) with feathers

fledge an arrow

Examples of fledge in a Sentence

The young birds haven't yet fledged.

Recent Examples on the Web

Both fledging broadband offers debut as stand-alone services on August 21, with ESPN seeking $29.99 a month and Fox charging $19.99 per month. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025

On top of this, the rainfall in December correlates to the number of birds who will fledge. —Ariel Saramandi, The Dial, 29 July 2025

Where her life felt fledging and disordered, his was, well, not. —Morgan Sullivan, Vogue, 31 July 2025

The Chicago Sky guard played part of last offseason in Unrivaled, the fledging three-on-three league that Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart developed. —Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

fledge capable of flying, from Middle English flegge, from Old English -flycge; akin to Old High German flucki capable of flying, Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for fledge

• dredge
• edge
• hedge
• ledge
• pledge
• sedge
• sledge
• wedge
• allege
• straightedge

Kids Definition

fledge

verb

ˈflej 

fledged; fledging

1

: to develop the feathers necessary for flying

also : to leave the nest after developing such feathers

2

: to provide with feathers

fledge an arrow