1
as in to hover
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings
the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to travel
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to flee
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to disappear
to cease to be visible
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to pass
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the familiar "Because I said so!" is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fly
Ben Standig, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
SeaWorld Orlando delays Expedition Odyssey ride’s debut by a week
Previews for the flying theater-style attraction also were pushed back.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2025
Adam Levine, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Plus, the faux fly detailing gives the pants a sophisticated flair that can easily be dressed up or down.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Conerly and several family members flew from Seattle to the other Washington.
—Ben Standig, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
SeaWorld Orlando delays Expedition Odyssey ride’s debut by a week
Previews for the flying theater-style attraction also were pushed back.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
Your brain is wired to imagine bold futures (prefrontal cortex), pursue meaningful challenge (dopamine), adapt on the fly (neuroplasticity) and thrive on uncertainty (evolutionary reward circuits).
—Adam Levine, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Plus, the faux fly detailing gives the pants a sophisticated flair that can easily be dressed up or down.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
-
From a terminal far out of harm’s way, drone pilots could hover in the sky for hours, soaking up surveillance information, building a case for precisely whom to bomb and when to do it.—
Colin Jones,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
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Uncertainty still hovers over Bryce Huff, a splash signing in 2024.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Tesla needs Musk's technical brilliance but can't escape the collateral damage of his polarizing public persona.—
Allen Adamson,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Behind the Tigers’ strong start is Gleyber Torres’ subtle leadership Cade Cunningham, Pistons can’t escape growing pains that come with NBA playoffs Colton Pouncy is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Lions.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Any adult who plans to travel around the country this summer, or any time after the enforcement deadline, must have a REAL ID or another federally compliant identification document in order to avoid delays.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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Portugal’s flag carrier TAP Air Portugal told people not to travel to the airport until further notice.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The pair then flee into the building’s stairwell, but a wounded, knife-wielding Jimenez follows hot on their tails and another struggle ensues that ends as the victim succumbs to his wounds.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2025
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Six months later, in May 2024, CNN published footage from a security camera at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles showing Ventura fleeing a room, only to be attacked by Combs, who is seen wearing a white towel around his waist and socks.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
Much of the production that Boston typically counts on disappeared.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Some bumblebee populations have been disappearing from the southern parts of their geographic range and have been found in cooler regions to the north and in more mountainous areas.—
Courtney McGinnis,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The issue became a flashpoint for the Justice Department in March, when Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer refused to add Gibson to a pilot program that had whittled a list of 95 non-violent offenders down to nine who had passed rigorous FBI background checks.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Hobbs, a Democrat, will have final say on the bills, which did not pass with veto-proof majorities.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While early voting and mail-in ballots received before Election Day are processed and posted on election night, vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day, along with provisional ballots, are counted during the official canvass period within 30 days after the election.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2025
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The decline comes as Democrats’ ideological wings fight over the best tactics to counter Trump, which, combined with raw political ambition, makes the emerging Democratic 2028 field a wide-open electoral canvass.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In October it was revealed that Good Omens, the Prime Video drama series based on the book Gaiman co-wrote with Terry Pratchett, will end with one 90-minute episode instead of a full third season as originally planed, with Gaiman exiting his creative role on the project.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2025
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In October it was revealed that Good Omens, the Prime Video drama series based on the book Gaiman co-wrote with Terry Pratchett, will end with one 90-minute episode instead of a full third season as originally planed, with Gaiman exiting his creative role on the project.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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