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
SpaceX is also eyeing an equatorial orbit when Starship flies on the Artemis IV mission, and NASA may already be quietly shifting the mission's landing site to a higher latitude. Josh Dinner, Space.com, 23 July 2026 The servicer will have an onboard control system, which flies the spacecraft and keeps its body back at a safe distance while the arm reaches in. Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 22 July 2026 Europe is home to a few species of tachinid flies that specifically target European earwigs. Hannah Smith july 22, Idaho Statesman, 22 July 2026 Diego Luna flies out to attend the 74th San Sebastian Film Festival at Academia de Cine in Madrid on July 17. Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 Software flies the mission Autonomy sits at the center of the program. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flies
Verb
  • The South Korean benchmark now hovers at around 6,700, having experienced volatile swings due to the heavy dependence on heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 July 2026
  • As a result, turnout for the state’s Republican primary usually hovers just over 50% of overall GOP registration and a little less than that for Democrats.
    Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • When his former sister-in-law Rachel Mills (Britt Lower) visits him in prison with new evidence that Matthew might still be alive, David escapes and sets out on a mission to rescue him.
    Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • Ginsburg recommends inspecting the plant under bright light so nothing escapes your notice.
    Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 21 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
  • When her best friend’s family suddenly flees under suspicious circumstances, taking her away with them, 10-year-old Lucía gathers her gang to launch a plan inspired by their favorite superheroes.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • The tradeoffs considered, the risks weighed, the judgement calls made along the way—much of it disappears the moment the document is finalized.
    Tony Grout, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Horvát’s English-language debut stars Mackenzie Davis and Rupert Friend in the story of a young scientist who mysteriously disappears only to show up weeks later at her own memorial service with no memory of what happened.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • The church leaders called on lawmakers to retain existing tax exemptions for charitable organizations such as maternity homes, domestic violence shelters and food banks if Amendment 5 passes.
    Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
  • Multiple governments are jostling for sovereignty over the waterway, a crucial economic corridor through which one third of global maritime trade passes every year.
    Ivan Watson, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • Strong demand also encourages theaters to invest in more premium screens.
    David Deal, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Laying out a list of her concerns about the use of social media by kids, Von der Leyen said that children under 3 should have no exposure to screens at all.
    Samuel Petrequin, Fortune, 20 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 27 Jul. 2026.

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