high-flying

adjective

high-fly·​ing ˈhī-ˈflī-iŋ How to pronounce high-flying (audio)
Synonyms of high-flyingnext
1
: marked by extravagance, pretension, or excessive ambition
2
: rising to considerable height

Examples of high-flying in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Johnson is a high-flying, 6-foot-8 forward who’s become a nightly triple double threat for the Hawks after the Trae Young trade with the Washington Wizards. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026 Evans is known for his incredible high-flying maneuvers, but Levesque has advised him to focus on fundamentals. Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026 The film is the highest-profile producing return for Ryan Kavanaugh, the once high-flying Relativity Media boss who helped finance films including The Social Network, The Fighter and The Fast and the Furious before the studio imploded in 2015. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026 Other high-flying aerial performers include the F-16 Viper Demo Team, the B-52 Stratofortress, SOCOM Para-Commandos and the P-51 Mustang Demo. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026 Some high-flying Epstein friends resigned or lost jobs in corporate America, academia, big law firms, the British, Slovakian and Norwegian governments and beyond. ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026 And yet, the Rockets’ defense, which ranks sixth in the NBA in points allowed per possession, starts with its high-flying, third-year wing. Fred Katz, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026 In celebration of the high-flying race, Graeter's is bringing back its signature Flying Pig Tracks ice cream (for a limited time). Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026 Equally challenging is the five-hour nature trail at Masungi Georeserve in Rizal, which combines uphill climbing, a high-flying ropes course, and a series of hanging bridges in the jungle. Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-flying was in 1581

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Cite this Entry

“High-flying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-flying. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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