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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of flying
Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
Wonder plant and insect camera Bird Buddy is moving on to smaller flying creatures of the outdoors.
—Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 7 Jan. 2025
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
After his racing days, Biffle used his flying skills for good.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
If all goes to plan, by the early 2030s many—or even most—data centers will be flying overhead.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Adjective
Our fact-check sources Chaos Factory (YouTube), Sept. 1, 2023, BREAKING: UFO's seen over South Florida today being followed by military attack helicopters
Business Insider, Feb. 12, 2023, The US has shot down 3 suspicious flying objects in 3 days.
—Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
Wonder plant and insect camera Bird Buddy is moving on to smaller flying creatures of the outdoors.
—Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
Biffle’s love of flying was never more under the spotlight — and necessary — than in the fall of 2024.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
After his racing days, Biffle used his flying skills for good.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Verb
Who would have thought that giving away billions of dollars to people who self-certify facts on a form leads to tens of billions of dollars flying out the door to fraudsters who learn how to fill out the form?
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
If all goes to plan, by the early 2030s many—or even most—data centers will be flying overhead.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flying
Adjective
-
Our poor Toby, always so stressed, always so rushed.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
These alternatives can often provide a richer, less rushed experience than a whirlwind day trip to Paris.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Season One concludes with the Texas Tech geology graduate abandoning a well crew after tragedy strikes, only to achieve rapid success in his personal and work endeavors.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The system supports more than 10 smart flight modes, including Snorkel Mode and Mount Mode, expanding how users can capture footage on and around water.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Using your airline’s app can also give you access to the most recent updates regarding gate changes, flight delays, and more.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The vessel is capable of station keeping and hovering.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Half of Jewish Americans ages 18-34 believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza; that percentage number is hovering in the 30s among older groups, according to a September 2025 poll by the Washington Post.—
Joseph Strauss,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Her grandfather, George Craig, had made his way there after escaping enslavement with the aid of John Brown, and was working as a barber in the town of Grinnell.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Regardless of our paths — whether that meant escaping war in Ethiopia or being the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors — many of us labor under the belief that this work requires us to commit to the ideals of this nation and not the indignation and nightmare of the insurrection.—
Sarah Ghermay,
Washington Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Legion Pro Rollable lets players train in conditions closer to tournament play, even while traveling.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Santa Rosa Police Department said in a press release that officers responded to multiple reports of a shooting at the mall and found a 15-year-old boy who had been shot, with the bullet traveling through his body, leaving entry and exit wounds in his upper shoulder and mid-back area.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene, officials said.—
Alexandra Koch , Bill Melugin , Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Industry executives say the shift reflects changing consumer habits, not disappearing demand.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
America’s doctors are rapidly disappearing into hospital systems.—
Tomas J. Philipson,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flying. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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