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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
Across the canyon, flames leapt up the Paseo Miramar trail, still two miles away as the crow flies, but already too close to ignore.
—Jonathan Taplin, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2026
Skye, the 7-year-old Cockapoo is the team’s air rescue pup and flies a helicopter.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
The ball flies through the air, the buzzer sounds and the ball sinks through the net.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
On the Twelfth Night of Christmas, La Befana, an old woman, flies on a broom around the country to deliver candies to good children and coal to bad children.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Construction workers seen installing panels in the exterior of Modules 3 and 4 as a Delta airplane flies by on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
—Emma Hurt, AJC.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Cape Air flies directly from San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU), making these flights the best choice for travelers heading straight to Vieques upon arrival in Puerto Rico.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2026
That is, until Angel flies in on her wings and brings her dark cloud with her.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
So instead, to keep costs down and power up, the Starcloud satellite flies what is known as a dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbit, circling the planet at a near vertical 83° angle that carries it over the poles and keeps it almost constantly exposed to the sun.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
Across the canyon, flames leapt up the Paseo Miramar trail, still two miles away as the crow flies, but already too close to ignore.
—Jonathan Taplin, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2026
Skye, the 7-year-old Cockapoo is the team’s air rescue pup and flies a helicopter.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
The ball flies through the air, the buzzer sounds and the ball sinks through the net.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
On the Twelfth Night of Christmas, La Befana, an old woman, flies on a broom around the country to deliver candies to good children and coal to bad children.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Construction workers seen installing panels in the exterior of Modules 3 and 4 as a Delta airplane flies by on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
—Emma Hurt, AJC.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Cape Air flies directly from San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU), making these flights the best choice for travelers heading straight to Vieques upon arrival in Puerto Rico.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2026
That is, until Angel flies in on her wings and brings her dark cloud with her.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flies
Verb
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National runner-up Houston also hovers near the top of the odds as well.—
Scott Phillips,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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The population here hovers around 250, and there’s just one grocery store—but intrepid guests will find themselves in stunning, rugged landscapes with few people around.—
Mae Hamilton,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Instead, book a few three- to four-day escapes that align with school and office closures.—
Zach Wichter,
Freep.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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Known for its Gilded Age mansions, deep maritime roots, and rugged Atlantic shoreline, Newport has long been one of New England’s signature coastal escapes.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The older dog is shown marching along, while the puppy scurries along, attempting to match its pace.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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In some versions of the tale, the wolf scurries off to the forest while the three pigs live happily ever after in humble homesteads of their choice.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Players take on the role of Enzo Favaro, a miner who survives a tunnel collapse and flees the pit after insubordinately attacking a cruel underboss.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
15 Oct. 2025
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Blazy gives Odhiang a deep hug, jogs around the runway, and flees toward the exit, smiling.—
Nathan Heller,
Vogue,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Teach digital boundaries such as reminding children that nothing online truly disappears; screenshots and shares can happen instantly.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Google Pixel Buds Pro handles noise cancellation and audio processing at the same time, with its custom Tensor A1 chip, meaning your music stays pristine while background noise disappears.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The play had Gwath inbounding on the far sideline to BJ Davis, who passes to Miles Byrd at the top of the key.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The morning drive host on 680 The Fan caught passes from Ryan for three years.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Is there a chance Carrie Bradshaw could grace our screens again at some stage in the future?—
Scarlett Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Diving for loose balls, setting screens and hitting the boards, Riep was a valuable commodity on a team with plenty of scoring options.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Back in 1962, Lilly leaves Juniper Hill with a higher dose of medication, which seems like the best-case scenario given the threat of lobotomy in the show’s opening titles.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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The key is to fold the scarf over itself to create volume and to look for a lace trim that leaves the hem frayed, so as not to look too formal.—
Arancha Gamo,
Glamour,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flies. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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