plural flybys
1
: a prearranged usually low-altitude flight by one or more airplanes over a public gathering (such as an air show)
2
a
: a flight of a spacecraft past a celestial body (such as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific data
b
: a spacecraft that makes a flyby
Examples of flyby in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This flyby also provides the mission team an opportunity to test two onboard scientific instruments.
—
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 1 Mar. 2025
The craft's second ultra-close flyby of Io occurred last February, predominantly over the moon's southern hemisphere.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
The Christmas Eve flyby will be the first of three final close swings planned for the mission.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 24 Dec. 2024
More cyclones were spotted during a flyby over the south pole of the gas giant, too.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
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Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 1 Mar. 2025
The craft's second ultra-close flyby of Io occurred last February, predominantly over the moon's southern hemisphere.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
The Christmas Eve flyby will be the first of three final close swings planned for the mission.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 24 Dec. 2024
More cyclones were spotted during a flyby over the south pole of the gas giant, too.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flyby
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Cite this Entry
“Flyby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flyby. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flyby
noun
fly·by
-ˌbī 
plural flybys
1
: a usually low-altitude flight past a chosen place by one or more aircraft
2
a
: a flight of a spacecraft past a heavenly body (as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific information
b
: a spacecraft that makes a flyby
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