1
as in to hover
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
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to travel
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to flee
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 to disappear
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 to pass
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 fly
Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Then there’s social media, where spoilers fly free.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
Powell said the rhythm will have to be re-created on the fly.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Use Google Flights or Skyscanner to compare fares, and fly midweek for cheaper options.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Then there’s social media, where spoilers fly free.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
Fast forward 10 months, and the pair has kept its flair for experimenting on the fly.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
Powell said the rhythm will have to be re-created on the fly.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
-
Not the good, high-altitude ozone that shields us from dangerous UV light, but bad ozone, hovering right above ground level — stinking, brownish, grayish photochemical smog.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Several hundred meters away, at the Cheonggyecheon stream, levels still hovered between 70 and 80 decibels—the intensity of a busy street or a vacuum cleaner.—
Yook JiHun,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fortunately, fire crews only had to focus on getting the fire out as the two families were able to escape on their own.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kristopher David was driving to work Wednesday morning near the intersection of Broward Boulevard and Seventh Avenue when a black Audi, traveling westbound at a high rate of speed, T-boned his white BMW.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Instead, Hall put on late-night shows in the basement of his home and became a popular child magician, earning money by doing his routine at ritzy parties and travelling to magic conventions.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The sole occupant of the home was assaulted and tied up before the suspect stole several items from the home, including a vehicle, then used that vehicle to flee the scene, according to LeLacheur.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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All three suspects in the vehicle bailed and fled on foot, prompting assistance from both the Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore City's Foxtrot.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The shipment of the crunchy bars, made of waffles covered with chocolate, disappeared last week while en route between production and distribution locations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Bethany Markowski disappeared one month after her 11th birthday.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mike Johnson’s razor-thin margin The margin is a top concern for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on any legislation that reaches the House floor, but especially with any bill passing through reconciliation.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
-
If passed, the bill would dissolve Hiram in July 2027.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As Barber fell to the canvas, Grasso put her in a rear naked chokehold before the fight was quickly called.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
31 Mar. 2026
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No influencers, no trending audio, no elaborate editing — just millions of people sleeping better to the sound of rain on canvas.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lexington businessman Nate Morris and former Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the other two Republican Senate race frontrunners, are also planing to be in attendance.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Mar. 2026
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Conditions will remain dangerous through the weekend, and people need to plane carefully and be conservative when selecting terrain, according to the CAIC.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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