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
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2
as in to escape
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 to travel
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
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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
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5
as in to disappear
to cease to be visible
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of fly
Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
There is a noticeable difference between flying on a U.S. airline versus an airline from the UK or Europe.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
David Strausser, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
The baby managed to nap on the fly most days, the six-year-old didn’t have notable tantrums, and both generally ate everything (pillowy mandazi, or African donuts, became a breakfast favorite).
—Tanveer Badal, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fly 
Verb
The 30-year-old Hawaii native was flying from Maui to N.Y.C. with a connection at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Nov. 8.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
There is a noticeable difference between flying on a U.S. airline versus an airline from the UK or Europe.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
Smarter scheduling: Adjust on the fly with real-time data
Scheduling in field service is an art—and no one wants to be Picasso in a scheduling disaster.
—David Strausser, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
The baby managed to nap on the fly most days, the six-year-old didn’t have notable tantrums, and both generally ate everything (pillowy mandazi, or African donuts, became a breakfast favorite).
—Tanveer Badal, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
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That weekend, at the grocery store, Eliza hovered near the cosmetics wall and, almost without looking, tossed in mascara, concealer, lip gloss, and sped to the checkout, feeling furtive.Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
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On Tuesday, special forces troops were observed encircling the parliament building and army helicopters were hovering over it.Landon Mion, Fox News, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In Jacques Audiard's cartel musical, Gomez plays Jessi, the wife to Karla Sofía Gascón's titular heroine, a trans woman who's trying to escape her violent past as a cartel boss.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
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The dynamic clip was directed by Jonah Haber and depicts Tinashe being detained in a cell, struggling to escape as onlookers watch her dance.Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Common dolphins like to travel in larger groups, often over 50.Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
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Second, food now travels very far before reaching consumers: The average distance a typical food item travels is 1,500 to 2,500 miles before being bought.Vaclav Smil, WIRED, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Rebel fighters recently seized control of Syria, with Assad reported to have fled to Russia.Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
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Key Background Thousands of detainees fled Syrian prisons this week after Bashar al-Assad’s government was overthrown over the weekend.Ty Roush, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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For Hughes and Hronek, time and space at the point disappeared from early December onward.Jimmy Durkin, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
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For example, the Jackal has still not been paid for his successful assassination, and his wife has disappeared, leaving Redmayne to look for her and his family.Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The city also argued it shouldn’t be held responsible for incorrect information passed along by employees at the WorkSource Centers who are responsible for distributing the funds.Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
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As security and data privacy have become paramount concerns, passing a SOC 2 audit is a critical milestone for companies striving to grow and retain client confidence.Amir Tarighat, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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His arrest came after what police described as a significant use of police resources, including combing through thousands of hours of video, reviewing hundreds of tips, DNA testing, fingerprint analysis, drones and aviation canvasses, that for days appeared to yield no results.Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
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Police are attempting to track him through video canvass, the NYPD sources said.Kerry Breen, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Lionsgate has several festivities planed including special events, anniversary screenings, new experiences, and new collectible merchandise, culminating in the release of Ballerina: From the World of John Wick next year on June 6.Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024
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But other residents want the initiative to move ahead as planed, asserting that the changes will make the corridor safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near fly
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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