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

Apparently, the troubled celeb’s accommodations are a far cry from her high flying days on TV, commanding a salary of $10 million a year. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025

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

Noun

But despite the importance of aviation in our lives, commercial flying has some significant issues. —Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

There’s athleticism involved in this flying and a high degree of mental toughness. —Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

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

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