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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
The shutting down of airports was potentially embarrassing for Moscow, as delegations from countries that have remained friendly to Russia were flying in to attend the parade on Friday.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
When the flies landed on the fish, so did the Stop Sales.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
The satellites will be smaller than the GPS satellites flying today and will transmit a core set of signals.
—ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
The shutting down of airports was potentially embarrassing for Moscow, as delegations from countries that have remained friendly to Russia were flying in to attend the parade on Friday.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Noun
Parasitized flies are also less successful at mating.
—Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
When the flies landed on the fish, so did the Stop Sales.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
-
Then again, for those who have bought one of the most expensive tickets in Knicks history—with the get-in price hovering above $650 as of Friday morning—what’s a few more dollars for the chance to see New York potentially reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1999?—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
16 May 2025
-
The Vietnam War and its effects hover over the group.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
Verb
-
An Army spokesman on Thursday confirmed that two inmates tried to escape late last month.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
9 May 2025
-
Though their time together was fleeting, her daughter Teresa, who is going to unintentionally enter the same dangerous environment her mother once escaped, will live with the effects.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
Ramsey flies more than 400,000 miles per year and has traveled to all 7 continents, 50 U.S. states and 173 of the United Nations countries.—
Ramsey Qubein,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
-
Messi and his teammates will travel to San Jose on Sunday and train there in preparation for Wednesday’s 10:30 p.m. game against the Earthquakes, who are coached by former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena and whose roster includes former Inter Miami player Josef Martinez.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
The cruel politics of South Carolina lawmakers are harming families and destroying a health care system as more and more providers flee the state.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
-
Three Yale professors who study fascism are fleeing the U.S.—
Eric Lipton,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
Micah, then 34, went missing in March 2018, and Baylee, then 20, disappeared in April, per Marie Claire.—
Emily Krauser,
People.com,
12 May 2025
-
On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian dissident who, after leaving his home country, had become an opinion columnist for the Post, disappeared while visiting the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul.—
Clare Malone,
New Yorker,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
For years, legislation allowing public school districts more calendar flexibility has passed in the state House but stalled in the Senate.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
12 May 2025
-
Meanwhile at the Equity conference over the weekend, delegates unanimously passed a motion calling on the trade union movement to campaign for further protections from artificial intelligence misuse for creative workers.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Public comment on the canvasses was close to nonexistent.—
Sasha Hupka,
The Arizona Republic,
26 Nov. 2024
-
Catch up quick: At the statewide election canvass in 2020, then-Gov. Doug Ducey famously silenced his cellphone while receiving a call from then-President Trump.—
Jeremy Duda,
Axios,
25 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Erect blackberries like 'Navaho' can be planed in traditional rows or grown as a hedge.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Although planed and sanded to prevent splinters, the barnwood has a natural, untreated appearance for a casual wood kitchen cabinet color and finish.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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