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

Some of these mysterious flying objects are suspected to be drones. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Singh added there is no evidence the mysterious flying objects are linked to a foreign entity or are the work of an adversary. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024

Noun

Santa might be able to transport holiday gifts on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, but for the rest of us, driving or flying is a more likely holiday travel scenario. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2024

The second generation inverted the colors, with each silo featuring a colored frame and a black flying D. Third generation rackets now get a third color. —Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

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