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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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fly
Brian Bennett, Time, 14 Apr. 2025
Over several generations the butterflies can fly up to 9,300 miles annually from Scandinavia to equatorial Africa and back.
—Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 13 Apr. 2025
Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
The social-engineering operations were carefully coordinated, with members sharing updates in real-time in chat messages and refining scripts, and psychological lures on the fly.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Verb
Since Trump came to office on Jan. 20, his administration has flown more than 200 people from the U.S. to El Salvador to be imprisoned in CECOT.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 14 Apr. 2025
Over several generations the butterflies can fly up to 9,300 miles annually from Scandinavia to equatorial Africa and back.
—Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
White repeatedly shuffled the deck by deciding what to play on the fly and disregarding the boundaries of existing arrangements.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
The social-engineering operations were carefully coordinated, with members sharing updates in real-time in chat messages and refining scripts, and psychological lures on the fly.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fly
Verb
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The early critical response has hovered north of the 90th percentile in favorability, though some reviewers argue the filmmakers have gone too narrow-focus on sheer authenticity, not to say shock value.—
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
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But momentous events from beyond the stage hovered, too: In February, well after all 5,000 tickets had been sold for our two-night stand, Donald Trump dismissed multiple members of the Kennedy Center board and installed himself as the institution’s chairman.—
Ryan Miller,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Apr. 2025
-
No one was harmed during the incident, and the suspect escaped.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Jaguars, who were originally slated to pick eighth before Minnesota’s draft-night slide, traveled to Utah to work out the promising prospect, who was considered by many to be the top offensive tackle in the class.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Apr. 2025
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Some of the videos have showcased stuff that people are doing to bring themselves comfort and joy like traveling, dancing, running or shopping, the last of which should make many businesses smile.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Fellow dictatorships including Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, and Iran lined up behind Maduro while Gonzalez fled the country during the reign of state terror against dissidents that followed the election.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
20 Apr. 2025
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April 19: McVeigh parks the truck outside the federal building and flees on foot to his getaway car.—
Todd Pendleton,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After Norman disappeared, Zizz borrowed a friend's vehicle and left the area.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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If gate donations continue to decline, street festivals will continue to shrink or simply disappear.—
Pamela Maass,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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On Capitol Hill, details are still under wraps as Republican lawmakers this year try to pass a major tax and spending bill that is seen as the primary vehicle for Trump's second-term agenda.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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Photo: Ash James As an expansive, 2,000-acre estate that’s been passed down through the same family for generations, São Lourenço do Barrocal offers perhaps the most authentic introduction to the region.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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 23 Apr. 2025.
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