fledge

verb

ˈflej 

fledged; fledging

intransitive verb

of a young bird : to acquire the feathers necessary for flight or independent activity

also : to leave the nest after acquiring such feathers

transitive verb

1

: to rear until ready for flight or independent activity

2

: to cover with or as if with feathers or down

3

: to furnish (something) with feathers

feather an arrow

Examples of fledge in a Sentence

The young birds haven't yet fledged.

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite their various troubles, all of the young eagles successfully fledged and flew away, but in their absence, Dr Morris was unmoored, desolate. —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

Overall, the average divorce rate was 26%, but this dropped significantly when there were higher hatching and fledging successes. —New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2025

These range from fringe political groups to fully fledged terrorists. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

After taking over a fledging team in the first half of 2024, Marsch guided the team to the Copa America semifinals, their highest FIFA ranking ever and back on the path of both respectability and competitiveness. —Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

fledge capable of flying, from Middle English flegge, from Old English -flycge; akin to Old High German flucki capable of flying, Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

fledge

verb

ˈflej 

fledged; fledging

1

: to develop the feathers necessary for flying

also : to leave the nest after developing such feathers

2

: to provide with feathers

fledge an arrow