1
as in rushed
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
a flying attempt at finishing the work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed
that car was flying as it careened down the streets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in flight
travel through the air by the use of wings
had never had the slightest fear of flying
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in hovering
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
2
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traveling
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fleeing
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 disappearing
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 working
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 flying
Curtis Silver, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The lower end of that spectrum (2,000 kelvins) will provide an orangey, amber light and attract the fewest flying insects.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Originally built in the early 1990s as a variable in-flight simulator, the aircraft was reconfigured in 2021 by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and Calspan to serve as a flying testbed for autonomy and machine-learning technologies.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Whether flying through Montego Bay or Kingston, travelers should have no problem finding convenient flights; these airports are among the busiest and best-served in the Caribbean.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Adjective
Only worth around $15 nowadays, but this card spawned so many anti-flying cards.
—Curtis Silver, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The lower end of that spectrum (2,000 kelvins) will provide an orangey, amber light and attract the fewest flying insects.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
The final leg of the trip, reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, will take some fancy flying.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Originally built in the early 1990s as a variable in-flight simulator, the aircraft was reconfigured in 2021 by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and Calspan to serve as a flying testbed for autonomy and machine-learning technologies.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
The pod has been under development for more than a decade and first began flying on F-16s in 2017.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Whether flying through Montego Bay or Kingston, travelers should have no problem finding convenient flights; these airports are among the busiest and best-served in the Caribbean.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flying
Adjective
-
May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Gemini May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The recent turmoil is testing some of the foundations that powered private credit’s rapid growth, including aggressive underwriting, highly leveraged middle-market borrowers and the promise of stable capital insulated from bank-style runs.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After retirement, Brown flew commercial cargo aircraft before joining two US defense contractors to work as an instructor in flight simulators training US pilots to fly the US F-35 stealth fighter and A-10 attack jet, the statement said.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
In his mind, Spurs’ determination to operate with one of the top flight’s strictest wage structures would quickly catch up with them in a hyper-competitive league, where more clubs could dream of European football.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Service at the bars and restaurants on the ship was wonderful, too—attentive but never hovering.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Temperatures will be hovering near 32° while the snow is falling.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some of his best friends and teammates have won Super Bowls the last two years after escaping the Giants.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
But such dreamy weather tends to draw visitors escaping snow and ice back home, so expect beaches to be busier and prices to be higher during this season.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The weather service said residents should use caution when traveling outside during the freeze warning as temperatures could drop low enough to cause frostbite or hypothermia with prolonged exposure.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Advancing your education, traveling more, or making friends outside of your typical circle could all be on the horizon.—
Maressa Brown,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the driver walks toward the vehicle behind the rig, a van, a person can be seen fleeing the scene on foot.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Schwartz, the retired journalist, spends six months a year in Puerto Vallarta, fleeing the ice and snow of his hometown in Michigan.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That doesn’t mean the drama is disappearing completely.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Sometimes, these platforms use disappearing messages.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flying. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
