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

But there aren’t enough helicopters available for initial pilot training, current and former Army aviators told Forbes, and active-duty and National Guard aircrews simply aren’t getting enough flying hours in peacetime. —Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes, 4 Feb. 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

While both incidents were horrifying, pilots and other aviation professionals confirm that flying is still the safest way to travel. —Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025

The feats of flying are thrilling enough, but the show’s best special effects have a beautiful simplicity. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 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

Rhymes for flying

• buying
• crying
• drying
• dyeing
• dying
• frying
• lying
• plying
• prying
• shying
• sighing
• spying

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