1
as in hovers
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 escapes
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scurries
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in flees
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 disappears
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 passes
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
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Recent Examples of flies
Reuters, NBC news, 1 June 2026
The Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance squadron flies 10 Super Hercules aircraft out of Biloxi, Mississippi.
—Scott Withers, CBS News, 31 May 2026
State Flag flies over Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma City OK.
—Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 31 May 2026
In fact, both still drive and her dad even flies his bi-plane on occasion.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 30 May 2026
Spend time walking around, snapping photos, or visiting the small interactive museum, ZOOOM, where a short 3D film flies viewers over the mountain range; admission is included in the ticket price.
—Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026
The explosion – rocking the Atlantic Coast of Florida and startling residents – completely destroyed the rocket's booster and upper stage that flies in orbit, while significantly damaging the launch pad.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 May 2026
On Morrison For the launch of Ohio’s year-long, state-wide celebration of Toni Morrison, Namwali Serpell flies to Columbus to talk with poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib.
—Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
The falcon flies up high overhead, spots a target below, folds its wings into a streamlined shape and then drops into a steep dive.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Verb
An Israeli flag flies over the medieval Beaufort Castle, known locally as Qalaat al-Shaqif or Shaqif Arnoun.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 June 2026
The Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance squadron flies 10 Super Hercules aircraft out of Biloxi, Mississippi.
—Scott Withers, CBS News, 31 May 2026
State Flag flies over Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma City OK.
—Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 31 May 2026
In fact, both still drive and her dad even flies his bi-plane on occasion.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 30 May 2026
Spend time walking around, snapping photos, or visiting the small interactive museum, ZOOOM, where a short 3D film flies viewers over the mountain range; admission is included in the ticket price.
—Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026
The explosion – rocking the Atlantic Coast of Florida and startling residents – completely destroyed the rocket's booster and upper stage that flies in orbit, while significantly damaging the launch pad.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 May 2026
On Morrison For the launch of Ohio’s year-long, state-wide celebration of Toni Morrison, Namwali Serpell flies to Columbus to talk with poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib.
—Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
The falcon flies up high overhead, spots a target below, folds its wings into a streamlined shape and then drops into a steep dive.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flies
Verb
-
Mark Bezos—Jeff’s brother—hovers around the bar.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 June 2026
-
Astrology, a pursuit that hovers in the nebulous space between science and storytelling, is not exactly a robust academic field, and LaFaive had no scholarly studies of Goodman’s life or work to consult.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Hellebuyck being Hellebuyck and a middle six that escapes its 2025-26 black hole and starts winning its minutes again.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
Aaron escapes his torturers, first by rooting himself in the town’s only movie theater open to Black people, and then by lying about his age and enlisting in the Navy at 16.—
Meredith Maran,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
That goes for much here, from the light that scurries away from Benjamín Echazarreta’s muted camera, to the moments of sweetness that punctuate Mariá Portugal’s largely ominous score.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
The way Radcliffe scurries out of his chair and into the green room to meet Liu illustrates her visceral impact.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rue then flees the home as Wayne chases her with a shotgun.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
Charlie flees the scene and Pip makes every effort to save Stanley, putting pressure on his wounds and trying to keep him conscious, dragging his body away from the flames after Charlie sets the place on fire.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Verb
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But institutional programming only runs as long as there’s a budget line for it, and when that line disappears so does the infrastructure that women were conditioned to rely on.—
Alli Kushner,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
In some images — such as those captured by the Spitzer Space Telescope — the iconic horsehead-shape disappears entirely, transforming the familiar nebula into something alien, and new.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Purito’s vitamin C serum, though, passes with flying colors through every pore-clogging ingredient checker.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
31 May 2026
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Havertz might be preferred at No 9 given the technical level of Arsenal’s opposition, as well as PSG’s pressing capabilities, which might require longer passes into the front line to circumnavigate.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The patterned density of Édouard Vuillard’s interiors turns decorative on a larger scale, becoming mere Nabi ornamentation in his screens and panels.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
At night, when the sun goes down, that’s my primary cue to reduce exposure to blue light from artificial sources like screens.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Verb
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This news soon wings its way to Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman), the magazine’s publisher, who hires her to be Runway’s features editor.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flies. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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