1
a
: to move in or pass through the air with wings
bees flying around the hive
b
: to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space
bullets flying in all directions
c
: to float, wave, or soar in the air
flags flying at half-mast
2
3
a
: to move, pass, or spread quickly
rumors were flying
b
: to be moved with sudden extreme emotion
flew into a rage
c
: to seem to pass quickly
the time simply flew
4
: to become expended or dissipated rapidly
After he became established in the town, his inheritance flew.
5
: to operate or travel in an airplane or spacecraft
They flew to Florida for their vacation.
6
: to work successfully : win popular acceptance
knew … a pure human-rights approach would not fly—
Charles Brydon
Charles Brydon1
a
: to cause to fly, float, or hang in the air
flying a kite
b
: to operate (something, such as a balloon, aircraft, rocket, or spacecraft) in flight
c
: to journey over or through by flying
flew the Atlantic
2
3
: to transport by aircraft or spacecraft
Supplies were flown to the disaster area.
plural flies
1
: the action or process of flying : flight
2
a
: a device consisting of two or more radial vanes capable of rotating on a spindle to act as a fan or to govern the speed of clockwork or very light machinery
b
: flywheel
3
flies plural
: the space over a theater stage where scenery and equipment can be hung
4
: something attached by one edge: such as
a
: a garment closing concealed by a fold of cloth extending over the fastener
b(1)
: the length of an extended flag from its staff or support
(2)
: the outer or loose end of a flag
5
: a baseball hit high into the air
6
: flyleaf
7
: a sheet of material (such as canvas) that is attachable to a tent for use as a double top or as a rooflike extension
8
: a football pass pattern in which the receiver runs straight downfield
plural flies
1
: a winged insect
—usually used in combination
mayflies
butterfly
2
a
: any of a large order (Diptera) of winged or rarely wingless insects (such as the housefly, mosquito, or gnat) that have the anterior wings functional, the posterior wings reduced to halteres, and segmented often headless, eyeless, and legless larvae compare maggot
b
: a large stout-bodied fly
3
: a fishhook dressed (as with feathers or tinsel) to suggest an insect
flyer; flyest
1
chiefly African American English
: impressively good, attractive, or stylish
The singer was spotted out and about … looking fly as ever in an all-black hooded outfit.—Natalie Michie
Natalie Michie… the Destiny's Child alum knew she was looking flyer than ever, stopping to pose for a few extra flirty photo opportunities as she arrived.—McKenna Aiello
McKenna AielloMary J. [Blige] had a tough job following up on one of the flyest debut albums in the hip-hop nation. Instead of trying to outdo herself, she took her music to the next level …—Gerald Dee
Gerald Dee
Examples of fly in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
you must fly to safety immediately
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
the familiar "Because I said so!" is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
In December, the developers flew Smith, Owens and an unidentified witness to Florida on a private jet for a meeting on a yacht.
—Bracey Harris, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024
But for some reason, Pop Mart got me. — Jon Shapiro, 48, a Pop Mart superfan
The phenomenon has forced staff at each Pop Mart store to devise their own crowd control plans on the fly.
—Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
If the Derby was a contest for whose bat was the flyest, though, Henderson might’ve taken that with his colorful piece of lumber with Scooby-Doo’s face on it.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for fly 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
And Americans who have flown private before are three times more likely to trust private pilots over commercial ones.
—Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
In December, the developers flew Smith, Owens and an unidentified witness to Florida on a private jet for a meeting on a yacht.
—Bracey Harris, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
Best show patience with young Buffs who’ll have to learn on the fly while traveling to hoops hornets nests such as Stillwater (Jan. 18), Tucson (Jan. 21), Lawrence (Feb. 11), Ames (Feb. 18) and Lubbock (March 5) this winter.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024
But for some reason, Pop Mart got me. — Jon Shapiro, 48, a Pop Mart superfan
The phenomenon has forced staff at each Pop Mart store to devise their own crowd control plans on the fly.
—Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Taylor, Jalen Hurts, and Jaylen Brown have each been able to become the flyest version of themselves due to the capabilities of their stylist.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
If the Derby was a contest for whose bat was the flyest, though, Henderson might’ve taken that with his colorful piece of lumber with Scooby-Doo’s face on it.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for fly
Dictionary Entries Near fly
Cite this Entry
“Fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fly. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fly
1 of 4 verb1
a
: to move in or pass through the air with wings
b
: to move through the air or with the wind
also
: to move through outer space
c
: to float or cause to float, wave, or soar in the air
flags flying
fly a kite
2
: to take flight : flee
3
: to move or pass swiftly
time flies
4
a
: to operate or travel in an aircraft or spacecraft
b
: to journey over or through by flying
fly the Atlantic
c
: to transport by aircraft or spacecraft
fly
2 of 4 noun
plural flies
1
a
: a garment closing concealed by a fold of cloth
b
: the outer fabric of a tent with a double top
c
: the length of an extended flag
also
: the loose end of a flag
2
: a baseball hit high into the air
fly
3 of 4 verb
flied; flying
: to hit a fly in baseball
fly
4 of 4 noun
plural flies
1
: a winged insect
2
: two-winged fly
especially
: one (as a housefly) that is large and has a stout body in comparison with others (as a mosquito)
3
: a fishhook covered to look like an insect
Etymology
Verb
Old English flēogan "to move through the air, fly"
Noun
Old English flēoge "flying insect"
Medical Definition
fly
noun
plural flies
1
: a winged insect
—usually used in combination
emerging mayflies
a large butterfly
2
a
: any dipteran fly
called also true fly, two-winged fly
b
: a large and stout-bodied dipteran fly (as a horsefly)
Geographical Definition
Fly
geographical name
river 650 miles (1046 kilometers) long in southern New Guinea flowing southeast into the Gulf of Papua
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