flying

1 of 2

adjective

fly·​ing ˈflī-iŋ 

1

a

: moving or capable of moving in the air

b

: moving or made by moving rapidly

flying feet

a flying leap

c

: very brief

2

: intended for ready movement or action

a flying squad car

3

: having stylized wings

—used especially of livestock brand marks

4

: of or relating to the operation of aircraft

a flying club

5

: traversed or to be traversed (as in speed-record trials) after a running start

a flying kilometer

flying

2 of 2

noun

1

: travel by air

2

: the operation of an aircraft or spacecraft

Phrases

with flying colors

: with complete or eminent success

Synonyms

Adjective

• cursory
• drive-by
• gadarene
• hasty
• headlong
• helter-skelter
• hurried
• overhasty
• pell-mell
• precipitate
• precipitous
• rash
• rushed

Noun

• flight

Examples of flying in a Sentence

Adjective

a story about a flying car

a flying attempt at finishing the work

Noun

had never had the slightest fear of flying

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Should conditions clear up to allow for safer flying conditions, the sheriff’s department will utilize its ASTREA unit to conduct an aerial search. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 7 Feb. 2024

This is roughly the same flying speed of the great California Condor and far faster than the flying speed of a common backyard bird like a sparrow. —Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2023

Noun

But Alito said in his letters that his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, was behind the flying of the flags. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 May 2024

Pioneering aviator Captain Theresa M. Claiborne has retired after 43 years of flying, first as a second lieutenant and the first Black female pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and then as a captain at United Airlines. —Dhanika Pineda, ABC News, 24 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flying

• accusations are flying
• flying boat
• flying bomb
• flying bridge
• flying buttress
• flying fish
• flying fox
• flying gurnard
• flying jib
• flying lemur
• flying machine
• flying mare
• flying officer
• flying saucer
• flying spot
• flying squad
• flying squirrel
• flying start
• flying wedge
• go flying
• high-flying
• instrument flying
• knock someone flying
• rumors are flying
• take a flying leap
• unidentified flying object
• with flying colors

Kids Definition

flying

adjective

fly·​ing

ˈflī-iŋ

1

a

: moving or made by moving rapidly

a flying leap

b

: hasty sense 1a

a flying visit

2

: ready to move or act quickly

a flying squad car