flies 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of fly
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

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2
3
4
5
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

flies

2 of 2

noun

plural of fly

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 flies
Verb
Having a great chill day on a Miami vacation, and then boom, my hat flies, my coffee goes all over me. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026 Eighty miles from New Orleans as the pelican flies, but so much longer by boat. Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 Trump is acutely focused on perfecting his personal environment, whether that’s in Washington, DC, or on the presidential plane that flies him around the world. Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 15 July 2026 The flight to Maracaibo is the 99th international destination American Airlines flies to from MIA. Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 View gallery - 7 images A robot that swims like a diving bird and then flies like, well, a bird, sounds like the setup for two different machines bolted together. New Atlas, 13 July 2026 Once released, the missile flies independently toward its objective using terrain-following flight profiles, precision navigation, and guidance systems designed to improve survivability. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026 No airline does more to connect the world than Turkish Airlines, which flies to over 130 countries and six continents. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026 In a generation that promotes body positivity, Brandy Melville flies under the radar with its eye-catching branding and misleading sizes. Sienna Feliciano, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flies
Verb
  • Ajayi, who hovers at 6-foot-7 and weighs 228-pounds, is a massive specimen who can defend multiple positions.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • The state wants each town to have at least 10% of its housing stock qualify as affordable; Avon currently hovers a little above 4%.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Pinned beneath her rotting legs in his recliner chair, Loftis narrowly escapes by yanking its lever, catapulting the hag over his head.
    Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
  • In the first five minutes, her Judith stabs a man at a party, escapes on skis and celebrates a job well done by bedding a besotted hottie.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, in King’s Landing, Alicent scurries the great halls, desperate to shore up support for her plan to hand Rhaenyra the Red Keep.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Dunn, having none of it, stabs Dickie 20 times with a broken liquor bottle–with pants around his ankles, no less–while Alma flees out a window.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • With no idea what's going on, Dylan flees the FBC to find that the Hiss — otherworldly crimson monsters from another dimension — have overrun Manhattan.
    George Yang, Space.com, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Melanie, all tattooed and idiosyncratically homely with her uncorrected teeth and auteur air, disappears.
    Matt Thompson, SPIN, 13 July 2026
  • Your hyperactive dog catches the scent of a deer and, powered by his hunter's instinct, disappears in the forest.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • But Hyundai projects that figure will fall to roughly $30,000 once cumulative output passes 50,000 units, largely due to almost an order of magnitude simplification in the Atlas build and materials, exclusively reported by Forbes.
    John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Proper Beach Club passes, which include all-day fine dining, are $1250 for one day or $2250 for two.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • Saunders was also a longtime staple on Baltimore TV screens, working for WJZ until 2013.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • The old supermarket-style, functional interiors are gone, and in their place are sleek architectural details, a scattering of midcentury modern furniture and colorful LED screens broadcasting the M&S seasonal campaigns.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Flies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flies. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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