1
as in rushed
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
a flying attempt at finishing the work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed
that car was flying as it careened down the streets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in flight
travel through the air by the use of wings
had never had the slightest fear of flying
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in hovering
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings
the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
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2
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traveling
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fleeing
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disappearing
to cease to be visible
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in working
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 flying
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
While visiting Santa's Village, guests are also invited to take flight in The Elf Flyer, a whimsical flying wooden shoe ride and take photos at three unique photo opportunities including the Countdown to Christmas Clock, in front of oversized holiday decor and Santa's Sleigh.
—Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Nov. 2025
David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
The city needs to come up with a more sophisticated gate-allocation process that doesn’t favor all these low-distance flights (which have disproportionate environmental costs) and does favor the kind of long-range international flying that asserts this city’s identity.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Gina Grillo, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
For a company founded in France, built partly in Germany, assembling aircraft across Europe and flying them globally, English has quietly become the default working language.
—Aslesha Mehta, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Adjective
Despite having small brains, pterosaurs’ overall brain shape surprisingly resembled that of non-flying, small, bird-like dinosaurs (troodontids and dromaeosaurids).
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
While visiting Santa's Village, guests are also invited to take flight in The Elf Flyer, a whimsical flying wooden shoe ride and take photos at three unique photo opportunities including the Countdown to Christmas Clock, in front of oversized holiday decor and Santa's Sleigh.
—Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
Last year, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, overseer of Miami International Airport and two smaller airports in the county, entered into agreements with the University of Miami and Wisk Aero, developer of self-flying air taxis, to explore steps toward autonomous flying.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
The city needs to come up with a more sophisticated gate-allocation process that doesn’t favor all these low-distance flights (which have disproportionate environmental costs) and does favor the kind of long-range international flying that asserts this city’s identity.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
Families were encouraged to work together, first to construct and decorate a kite, and then to put their creations to the test by flying them along Rosewood Beach.
—Gina Grillo, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
For a company founded in France, built partly in Germany, assembling aircraft across Europe and flying them globally, English has quietly become the default working language.
—Aslesha Mehta, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flying
Adjective
-
Little emphasized the need to ease property taxes in a letter accompanying his signature but criticized Moyle’s approach as rushed and overly complex.—
Mark Dee
March 6,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Over the past few of years, the surge in artificial intelligence fueled by apps, websites and other tech has created the need for the rapid expansion of massive data centers to handle the demand.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some airports are recommending passengers arrive twice as early for flights, and downloads of a security fast-track service app are up 200% on this time last year.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Most of the aid envoy returned on a chartered flight Monday and were not stopped and held for questioning, participants told the Miami Herald, but a handful of participants who stayed longer and flew back on a commercial flight Wednesday faced interrogations on their arrival.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The average price in Michigan had been hovering just below $4 for regular unleaded gas in recent days, but hit $4 once the prices were updated on Tuesday, according to AAA-The Auto Club Group.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
With temperatures hovering at a steady 4°C (39°F), any organism — or submersible — venturing into this zone must be strong enough to handle both the extreme cold and the massive hydrostatic force of the deep.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The leak caught on camera Researchers discovered a visible plume of radioactive material escaping from a ventilation pipe near the reactor compartment, corroborated by elevated radionuclide levels in water samples and plutonium isotope ratios.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Betrayal also makes escaping abusive relationships, including physically violent ones, difficult.—
Anne P. DePrince,
The Conversation,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Learning a language, studying abroad, or simply traveling to experience something entirely unfamiliar to you.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Woods' vehicle had been traveling between 84 and 87 mph in an area with a 45 mph speed limit, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at the time.—
Melissa Gaffney,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Co-written, directed and produced by Jamila, Season 1 is set in late-1980s Canada, centring on two siblings struggling to adapt to a new life after fleeing Lebanon.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
-
If convicted, Talley faces up to 7 years in prison on the fleeing charge, up to 4 years in prison on the property damage charge, and up to 6 months in jail on the stunt driving charge.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The disappearing middle The use of intermediaries was not new.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
California the magnificent, California the glorious, was slipping away, disappearing into smog, covered over by concrete.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flying. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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