1
as in rushed
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
a flying attempt at finishing the work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed
that car was flying as it careened down the streets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in flight
travel through the air by the use of wings
had never had the slightest fear of flying
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in hovering
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
2
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traveling
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fleeing
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 disappearing
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 working
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of flying
Leonard David,
Space.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Despite having small brains, pterosaurs’ overall brain shape surprisingly resembled that of non-flying, small, bird-like dinosaurs (troodontids and dromaeosaurids).
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Nov. 2025
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
18 June 2026
Tales of what happened at Roswell have grown in the telling so that it’s now seen as a keystone event by many true believers in the alien origins of unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The prototype rover is part of the German Space Agency's VaMEx (Valles Marineris Explorer) program, which is an initiative aimed at developing swarms of driving, walking and flying robots designed to explore Mars' vast Valles Marineris valley.
—
New Atlas,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Adjective
Chang'e 7 features an orbiter, a lander, a rover and a mini-flying probe or hopper, which together will tote to the moon a total of 18 scientific instruments.
—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Despite having small brains, pterosaurs’ overall brain shape surprisingly resembled that of non-flying, small, bird-like dinosaurs (troodontids and dromaeosaurids).
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Nov. 2025
Noun
There's a reason why flying can leave you feeling off—airplane cabins have significantly lower humidity levels (or less moisture in the air) than most people are used to.
—
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
18 June 2026
Tales of what happened at Roswell have grown in the telling so that it’s now seen as a keystone event by many true believers in the alien origins of unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
Verb
The video shows Sid take a leap before launching off the tree branch, flying in a circle around the nest as siblings Maz and Hutch watch.
—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The prototype rover is part of the German Space Agency's VaMEx (Valles Marineris Explorer) program, which is an initiative aimed at developing swarms of driving, walking and flying robots designed to explore Mars' vast Valles Marineris valley.
—
New Atlas,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flying
Adjective
-
Instead, Mahan and his wealthy Silicon Valley backers talked themselves into a rushed and premature campaign that was never remotely competitive.
-
As immigration officers arrested her six weeks ago, through tears and a rushed goodbye, Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez had a request for her daughter.
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
-
Improvements in blood tests, meanwhile, dovetail with rapid developments in treatments for various cancers, making the disease ever more survivable or even curable.
Noun
-
None of the participating athletes have to pay for their flights.
-
Donaldson auditioned for the Heat earlier this month after taking a red-eye flight from San Francisco.
Verb
-
With credit card interest rates still hovering around 20%, this may be less a strategic move and more a mandatory one.
-
Attendance at the annual event has grown, Rodgers said, with attendance before the pandemic hovering around 3,000 but about 6,000 coming to the festival a year ago.
Verb
-
Engineers have been trying to capture this escaping waste heat and turn it back into electricity using thermoelectric devices.
-
The current population is a result of the toads escaping or being released by importers during the 1950s and ‘60s, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Verb
-
Overall, the recommendations from PRT are to get on a bus at a stop closest to your home, rather than traveling closer to downtown for a stop, which will reduce traffic.
-
Tec-Troit reconnects locals, and also repeat tourists, with the roots of the music, but its performers won’t earn as much as internationally traveling DJs headlining other bigger festivals.
Verb
-
In addition to a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in a motor vehicle, the man also faces a misdemeanor battery charge, according to online Ada County Jail records.
-
The evidence included surveillance video of Anthony fleeing the bleachers after the stabbing, body camera footage of his confession during arrest and photographs of the knife used.
Verb
-
To keep your top candidates from disappearing, the hiring team should regularly discuss ways to improve the overall interview experience.
-
Now even that pretense is disappearing.
Cite this Entry
“Flying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flying. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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