flyby

noun

fly·​by ˈflī-ˌbī How to pronounce flyby (audio)
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
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Resilience has hit its milestones on schedule so far, according to the company, and is gearing up for a lunar flyby that will take place around Feb. 15. Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2025 And on its third flyby of the celestial body, the orbiter struck gold. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024 Plans are underway to send four astronauts on a lunar flyby as early as next year, followed by the first Moon landing in over half a century. Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024 The flyby could help scientists study the origins of space weather directly at the source, as the probe will zoom close enough to sail through plasma plumes and solar eruptions connected to the sun. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for flyby

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flyby was in 1953

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Cite this Entry

“Flyby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flyby. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

flyby

noun
fly·​by -ˌbī How to pronounce flyby (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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