flying
Americanadjective
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making flight or passing through the air; that flies.
a flying insect; an unidentified flying object.
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floating, fluttering, waving, hanging, or moving freely in the air.
flying banners; flying hair.
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extending through the air.
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moving swiftly.
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made while moving swiftly.
a flying leap.
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very hasty or brief; fleeting or transitory.
a flying visit; a flying remark.
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designed or organized for swift movement or action.
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fleeing, running away, or taking flight.
They pursued the flying enemy.
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Nautical. (of a sail) having none of its edges fastened to spars or stays.
noun
adverb
adjective
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(prenominal) hurried; fleeting
a flying visit
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(prenominal) designed for fast action
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(prenominal) moving or passing quickly on or as if on wings
a flying leap
the flying hours
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hanging, waving, or floating freely
flying hair
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nautical (of a sail) not hauled in tight against the wind
noun
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the act of piloting, navigating, or travelling in an aircraft
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(modifier) relating to, capable of, accustomed to, or adapted for flight
a flying machine
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of flying
before 1000; Middle English (noun); Old English flēogende (adj.). See fly 2, -ing 2, -ing 1
Explanation
The act of soaring through the air is flying. You can also use this word to describe anything that's soaring through the air, like a flying squirrel or flying insects. Use flying for anything that flaps or flutters above the ground, from flying fish to flying turkeys. It's also good for describing things that are propelled or blown into the air: "As the baseball hit the window, I ducked to avoid the flying glass." "The wind picked up and I watched the flying leaves dance around my yard." Some things only appear to fly, like a flying buttress, an architectural projection that "flies" from the side of a building.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The fishermen aboard the Don Maca say they too spotted a “blue boat” — this time flying a U.S. flag.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026
After the collision he saw helicopter parts "flying in all directions."
From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026
And in 2026, I was sprayed with beer, hit it in the head by a flying paper sombrero, and watched El Tri win its opening game with a 2-0 victory over South Africa.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
A year ago, on 12 June, his parents were flying home to London when their Air India flight crashed just 32 seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
About the same time, Don Quixote spotted a small caravan flying royal banners.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
