fledge

verb

ˈflej 

fledged; fledging

intransitive verb

of a young bird : to acquire the feathers necessary for flight or independent activity

also : to leave the nest after acquiring such feathers

transitive verb

1

: to rear until ready for flight or independent activity

2

: to cover with or as if with feathers or down

3

: to furnish (something) with feathers

feather an arrow

Examples of fledge in a Sentence

The young birds haven't yet fledged.

Recent Examples on the Web

Visitors can also check out the outdoor osprey cam and maybe even see the bay’s resident osprey couple teaching their chick to fledge the nest. —Laura Randall, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2024

Momma hummingbird just fledged her second round of babies this year, using the same nest from babies earlier this year. —Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024

Since the webcam was installed in 2015, only three chicks have fledged — and that’s normal, the biologist said. —Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024

The baby eagle was believed to be a female by the nonprofit and fledged that year. —Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

fledge capable of flying, from Middle English flegge, from Old English -flycge; akin to Old High German flucki capable of flying, Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

fledge

verb

ˈflej 

fledged; fledging

1

: to develop the feathers necessary for flying

also : to leave the nest after developing such feathers

2

: to provide with feathers

fledge an arrow