planes 1 of 3

noun

plural of plane
as in airplanes
a vehicle for traveling through the air that has fixed wings for lift a plane flew overhead

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planes

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of plane
as in smooths
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps planed the wood for the picnic table perfectly smooth so that no one would get splinters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

planes

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of plane
as in flies
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings an eagle planed effortlessly overhead, gliding on an air current

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of planes
Noun
Two regional officials said Houthi attacks on the Riyadh airport on Thursday damaged three planes. — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 As out-of-business Spirit Airlines liquidates, the planes and the landing rights aren’t the only leftovers for sale. — Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 Concorde flew at 60,000 feet, some 20,000 feet above conventional planes. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 Then, there are the stripes, which only wrapped around Condor planes after a major rebrand in 2022. — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 Even some airline pilots recorded the fiery aftermath as planes scrambled to move out of its path. — Heather Vogell, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2026 Crews inspected the man’s route down a taxiway between gates 7 and 12 for any debris or other hazards, and planes quickly resumed moving around the airfield. — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 Jake Hutzler spends his workdays directing planes from an airport tower. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 The Coast Guard has deployed two search and rescue planes as well as a helicopter and a motor lifeboat. — Frank Langfitt, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for planes
  1. airplanes
  2. smooths
  3. flies
  4. aeroplanes
  5. shaves
  6. wings
  7. levels
  8. hovers
Noun
  • The number includes both airplanes and helicopters as well as drones, with the MQ-9 Reaper drone – used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support and combat search and rescue – accounting for more than half of the losses.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Officials say residents in the affected counties should expect to spot low-flying airplanes or helicopters during these times.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of airplanes
Verb
  • This in-shower treatment smooths the cuticle for reflective, glass-like shine, leaving strands softer, silkier, and ultra-glossy in just one minute.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Researchers solved this issue by creating a dual processing technique that smooths the material surface and manages how the crystals form.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of smooths
Verb
  • Today, the 41-room property flies Hilton’s LXR flag, but the homely atmosphere remains, thanks to Barbieri’s photographs and local artworks lining the hallways, and the ever-smiling staff who greet every guest by name.
    — Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The 1983 movie, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, portrays the fight as gritty and grounded, taking place during a rainstorm where mud flies as fast as fists.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of flies
Noun
  • No distractions, no aeroplanes, no noise, no traffic.
    — Emma Banks, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The technology can fuel any form of transport, including yachts, ships, ferries, aeroplanes, trains, cars, buses, and trucks.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of aeroplanes
Verb
  • That shaves a year off the typical 120-hour bachelor’s degree.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For example, using behind-the-meter battery storage or local generation during peak windows actively shaves expensive demand charges without sacrificing performance.
    — Ray Fernandez, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of shaves
Verb
  • This news soon wings its way to Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman), the magazine’s publisher, who hires her to be Runway’s features editor.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of wings
Verb
  • Tornado levels homes in Enid, Oklahoma Residents of Enid, Oklahoma, are surveying the damage on Friday after a massive tornado ripped through the city on Thursday night.
    — Jack Moore, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The main difference is that Ruisdael cranes upward, to behold a castle on a hill, whereas Vermeer levels his gaze across open water.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of levels
Verb
  • The boon for traders and bankers comes as AI investment is fueling US economic growth even as consumer sentiment hovers at historic lows due to concerns about the cost of living, from rising energy prices to stubborn food inflation.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
  • After lingering over spaghetti alle vongole at Ristorante Lido Azzurro, which hovers over the sea near Amalfi’s harbor, zip around the coast to sea caverns and grottos, pausing for dips in secluded spots away from the crowds.
    — Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of hovers

Browse Nearby Words

planed
planes
planet
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Cite this Entry

“Planes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/planes. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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