flight
1the act, manner, or power of flying.
the distance covered or the course taken by a flying object: a 500-mile flight; the flight of the ball.
a trip by an airplane, glider, etc.
a scheduled trip on an airline: a 5 o'clock flight.
a number of beings or things flying or passing through the air together: a flight of geese.
the basic tactical unit of military air forces, consisting of two or more aircraft.
the act, principles, or technique of flying an airplane: flight training.
a journey into or through outer space: a rocket flight.
swift movement, transition, or progression: the flight of time.
a soaring above or transcending ordinary bounds: a flight of fancy.
a series of steps between one floor or landing of a building and the next.
a sampling of several wines or beers, or of a particular type of food, for the purpose of comparative tasting: a customized wine flight for four people; a flight of appetizers.
Archery.
the distance such an arrow travels when shot.
(of wild fowls) to fly in coordinated flocks.
Origin of flight
1Other words for flight
5 | flock |
9 | rush, dash, fleetingness |
Words Nearby flight
Other definitions for flight (2 of 2)
an act or instance of fleeing or running away; hasty departure.
Origin of flight
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use flight in a sentence
It would be easier to gain FAA certification if they simply converted a tried-and-true existing airplane for robotic flight.
Cessna makes history by taking off and landing with no one aboard. Here’s how | Jeremy Kahn | August 26, 2020 | FortuneNonetheless, there is clear evidence of airborne transmission risk on passenger flights.
American Airlines touts a new tool to combat COVID. But does it really make flying safer? | dzanemorris | August 24, 2020 | FortunePalantir Technologies, the data-mining company on the verge of going public, is moving to Denver, following a flight from Silicon Valley by chairman Peter Thiel and CEO Alex Karp.
Prominent Silicon Valley tech company departs for Denver | Verne Kopytoff | August 19, 2020 | FortuneThe most common cancellations outright with little to no chance of getting a refund have been for hotel and flight reservations as well as live concerts.
What to do if you lost money on an event canceled because of COVID-19 | Rachel King | August 19, 2020 | FortuneThe unprecedented logistical challenge of delivering more than 15 billion Covid-19 vaccines will be made even harder by the drop in passenger flights as people stay home during coronavirus.
Air travel’s collapse will make it harder to ship vaccines | Olivia Goldhill | August 14, 2020 | Quartz
The anti-crime cops began searching the likely path of flight.
Did the airline file a flight plan that took account of the weather en route from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore?
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501 | Clive Irving | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe copilot on flight 8501 was Remi Emmanuel Piesel, 46, who despite his age had just 2,275 hours of flying experience.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501 | Clive Irving | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTSpecifically, what briefing did the flight crew receive before they went to the airplane?
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501 | Clive Irving | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAirAsia Indonesia, which operated flight 8501, is the Indonesian subsidiary of AirAsia, which is based in Malaysia.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501 | Clive Irving | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThey ran side by side across the yard to a roofed flight of steps that led to the printing-office.
Hilda Lessways | Arnold BennettMy one room,” replied that much injured gentleman, “was on the Coffee Room flight.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles DickensBut the flight of the insurgents was too far advanced to rally them, and they retired south towards Pampanga.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanTo be sure, he hadn't seen Mrs. Robin go, but he had heard the beat of her wings as she began her flight.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott BaileyHis attitude was one of hopeless resignation as he looked toward a distant bird winging its flight away from him.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
British Dictionary definitions for flight (1 of 2)
/ (flaɪt) /
the act, skill, or manner of flying
a journey made by a flying animal or object
a scheduled airline journey
an aircraft flying on such a journey
a group of flying birds or aircraft: a flight of swallows
the basic tactical unit of a military air force
a journey through space, esp of a spacecraft
rapid movement or progress
a soaring mental journey above or beyond the normal everyday world: a flight of fancy
a single line of hurdles across a track in a race
a series of such hurdles
a bird's wing or tail feather; flight feather
a feather or plastic attachment fitted to an arrow or dart to give it stability in flight
See flight arrow
the distance covered by a flight arrow
sport, esp cricket
a flighted movement imparted to a ball, dart, etc
the ability to flight a ball
angling a device on a spinning lure that revolves rapidly
a set of steps or stairs between one landing or floor and the next
a large enclosed area attached to an aviary or pigeon loft where the birds may fly but not escape
(tr) sport to cause (a ball, dart, etc) to float slowly or deceptively towards its target
(intr) (of wild fowl) to fly in groups
(tr) to shoot (a bird) in flight
(tr) to fledge (an arrow or a dart)
Origin of flight
1British Dictionary definitions for flight (2 of 2)
/ (flaɪt) /
the act of fleeing or running away, as from danger
put to flight to cause to run away; rout
take flight or take to flight to run away or withdraw hastily; flee
Origin of flight
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with flight
In addition to the idioms beginning with flight
- flight of fancy
also see:
- put to flight
- take flight
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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