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
Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
The actual experience of flying, from the airport to the flight itself, is a favorite part of the journey for many.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 June 2026
But this timeline could struggle against a fly whose numbers can rebound quickly in warm weather, and the calf in La Pryor turned up at the start of summer.
—Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Companies conducting air jumps face more regulations than private pilots, but those requirements have more to do with the proper handling of skydiving equipment rather than flying the plane itself.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
The actual experience of flying, from the airport to the flight itself, is a favorite part of the journey for many.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Noun
Through it all, Sirianni has been adaptable, demonstrating a willingness to make big changes on the fly.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 June 2026
But this timeline could struggle against a fly whose numbers can rebound quickly in warm weather, and the calf in La Pryor turned up at the start of summer.
—Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
-
At the time of writing, shares are hovering around the $173 mark, down over 20 percent over its all-time high on Tuesday.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
18 June 2026
-
The population hovers at just over 200.—
John Lauritsen,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The comedy series followed Kimmy Schmidt, a woman who tries to adjust to normal life by moving to New York City after escaping a cult.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
-
Many high-achieving women, despite outward success, secretly feel exhausted and long to escape their demanding lives.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Schwarber’s first home run traveled 456 feet, while his second blast of the third inning measured 457 feet off Mets reliever Cionel Pérez.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2026
-
Belief traveled sideways, not down.—
Julie Averill,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Aegon, who was burned and crippled in Season 2, fled with Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), leaving his cruel, one-eyed brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) to sit on the Iron Throne.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
22 June 2026
-
Parsis are their descendants, a people who fled religious persecution and built a life for themselves on India’s west coast.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Maybe your flight was canceled, your luggage disappeared, you got stranded overseas, missed a cruise departure or learned a hard lesson the hard way.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
-
But bikes like this are a reminder of why the lightweight enduro class refuses to disappear.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 20,
New Atlas,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
For a performer whose studio has passed, the practical effect is that the actor absorbs the cost of staying on the ballot.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
The legislature passed a bill allowing Colorado's Department of Health Care Policy & Financing to begin work on the concept, noting the potential of saving Coloradans $46 million over three years.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Hence shirt jackets and safari jackets in linen and leather came to the fore, as did denim Bermudas, linen polos and lots of lifestyle knits amid its more formal, full-canvas tailoring — styled with a loosened tie.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
-
Dress the duo down with sneakers and a canvas tote bag, or dress it up with platform slides and chunky hoop earrings.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
The body then glides over the top of the windshield and starts flipping through the air over the roof.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
-
Directed by Child and filmed in Whack’s hometown of Philadelphia, the song’s black-and-white visuals transform familiar city streets into a monochrome maze where Whack glides through scenes with the oozing confidence of someone ready to reclaim her narrative.—
Sophie Miller,
Rolling Stone,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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