fly

[ flahy ]

/ flaɪ /

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See synonyms for: fly / flew / flies / flown on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural flies.

Also called true fly . any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera, especially of the family Muscidae, as the common housefly.

any of various winged insects, as the mayfly or firefly.

Angling. a fishhook dressed with hair, feathers, silk, tinsel, etc., so as to resemble an insect or small fish, for use as a lure or bait.

Fly, Astronomy. the constellation Musca.

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Idioms about fly

fly in the ointment, a detrimental factor; detraction: If there's one fly in the ointment, it's that there may not be the money to finish the job.

Origin of fly

First recorded before 950; Middle English flīe, Old English flēoge, flȳge; cognate with Middle Dutch vliege (Dutch vlieg ), Old High German flioga (German Fliege ); akin to fly²

OTHER WORDS FROM fly

flyless, adjective

Words nearby fly

flux density, flux gate, fluxion, flux linkage, fluxmeter, fly, fly agaric, fly ash, fly at, flyaway, flyback

Other definitions for fly (2 of 3)

fly²

[ flahy ]

/ flaɪ /

verb (used without object), flew

[floo] /flu/ or, for 11, flied

[flahyd], /flaɪd/, flown

[flohn], /floʊn/, fly·ing.

to move through the air using wings.

to be carried through the air by the wind or any other force or agency: bits of paper flying about.

to float or flutter in the air: flags flying in the breeze.

to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft.

to move suddenly and quickly; start unexpectedly: He flew from the room.

to change rapidly and unexpectedly from one state or position to another: The door flew open.

to flee; escape.

to travel in space: The probe will fly past the planet.

to move or pass swiftly: How time flies!

to move with an aggressive surge: A mother fox will fly at anyone approaching her kits.

Baseball.

to bat a fly ball: He flied into right field.
to fly out.

Informal. to be acceptable, believable, or feasible: It seemed like a good idea, but it just wouldn't fly.

verb (used with object), flew

[floo] /flu/ or, for 19, flied

[flahyd], /flaɪd/, flown

[flohn], /floʊn/, fly·ing.

to make (something) float or move through the air: to fly a kite.

to operate (an aircraft, spacecraft, or the like).

to hoist aloft, as for display, signaling, etc.: to fly a flag.

to operate an aircraft or spacecraft over: to fly the Pacific.

to transport or convey by air: We fly merchandise to Boston.

to escape from; flee: to fly someone's wrath.

Theater.

to hang (scenery) above a stage by means of rigging supported by the gridiron.
to raise (scenery) from the stage or acting area into the flies.

noun, plural flies.

a strip of material sewn along one edge of a garment opening for concealing buttons, zippers, or other fasteners.

a flap forming the door of a tent.

Also called tent fly. a piece of canvas extending over the ridgepole of a tent and forming an outer roof.

an act of flying; a flight.

the course of a flying object, as a ball.

Baseball. fly ball.

British. a light, covered, public carriage drawn by one horse; hansom; hackney coach.

Machinery. a horizontal arm, weighted at each end, that pivots about the screw of a press so that when the screw is lowered the momentum of the fly will increase the force of the press.

Also called fan. Horology. a regulating device for chime and striking mechanisms, consisting of an arrangement of vanes on a revolving axis.

Printing.

(in some presses) the apparatus for removing the printed sheets to the delivery table.
Also called flyboy. (formerly) a printer's devil employed to remove printed sheets from a press.

(on a flag)

the horizontal dimension of a flag as flown from a vertical staff.
the end of the flag farther from the staff.Compare hoist (def. 7).

flies. Also called fly loft .Theater. the space above the stage used chiefly for storing scenery and equipment.

Nautical. a propellerlike device streamed to rotate and transfer information on speed to a mechanical log.

Verb Phrases

fly out, Baseball, Softball. to be put out by hitting a fly ball that is caught by a player of the opposing team.

Origin of fly

First recorded before 900; Middle English flīen, Old English flēogan; cognate with Old High German fliogan, German fliegen, Old Norse fljuga

synonym study for fly

1. Fly, flit, flutter, hover, soar refer to moving through the air as on wings. Fly is the general term: Birds fly. Airplanes fly. To flit is to make short rapid flights from place to place: A bird flits from tree to tree. To flutter is to agitate the wings tremulously, either without flying or in flying only short distances: A young bird flutters out of a nest and in again. To hover is to linger in the air, or to move over or about something within a narrow area or space: hovering clouds; a hummingbird hovering over a blossom. To soar is to (start to) fly upward to a great height usually with little advance in any other direction, or else to (continue to) fly at a lofty height without visible movement of the wings: Above our heads an eagle was soaring.

OTHER WORDS FROM fly

fly·a·ble, adjectivefly·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·fly·a·ble, adjectivere·fly·a·ble, adjective

un·fly·a·ble, adjective

Other definitions for fly (3 of 3)

fly³

[ flahy ]

/ flaɪ /

adjective, fly·er, fly·est.

Slang. stylish, attractive, sophisticated, etc.: She put on silver stilettos, her flyest outfit, and plenty of bling, ready to party till dawn.

British Slang. aware and worldly; clever; smart: Adults generally found him sly and conniving, but his teenage followers were convinced he was fly.

British Slang. dexterous; agile; nimble.

Origin of fly

First recorded in 1805–15; perhaps special use of fly²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT FLY

What is a basic definition of fly?

Fly means to move through the air using wings or to be carried by the air. Fly also means to travel in a vehicle that can move through the air. As a noun, fly refers to several two-winged insects. Fly has many other senses as a verb and a noun.

Many birds and insects with wings are able to move through the air—that is, to fly. The wind or air currents can also make some items fly around without control, such as pieces of paper. The wind or other force blows these items around.

Real-life examples: Birds, bats, and insects are all able to fly. Paper, confetti, plastic bags, and baseballs often fly through the air when a wind blows.
Used in a sentence: Canada geese fly often south in the winter, resting in the same areas each year.

Humans can’t fly—not without help, at least. We can fly in airplanes, helicopters, and hot air balloons that fly through the air using air currents to travel.

Used in a sentence: The airplane flew across the ocean.

As a noun, fly is used generally to refer to small winged insects. The insects in question usually belong to the Muscidae family, such as the housefly.

Real-life examples: Flies are incredibly common and you have probably been annoyed by them during your life. Food and smelly garbage attracts flies. Spiders hunt and eat flies by trapping them in webs.
Used in a sentence: He couldn’t concentrate on his work because of an irritating fly that kept landing on his head.

Where does fly come from?

The first records of the verb fly come from before the 900s. It ultimately comes from the Old English verb flēogan. The noun fly is almost as old. The first records come from before 950. It ultimately comes from the Old English flēoge.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to fly?

flyable (adjective)
flyability (noun)
nonflyable (adjective)
reflyable (adjective)
flyless (adjective)

What are some synonyms for fly?

What are some words that share a root or word element with fly?

What are some words that often get used in discussing fly?

How is fly used in real life?

Fly is a very common word that most often refers to moving through the air.

Just witnessed a bird fly full speed into glass, be unconscious and not breathing. Gave him CPR with a Starbucks straw and he came back! Crazy!

— Braden Bishop (@bradenbishop7) December 10, 2018

In fifteen minutes, I'm heading to the airport so I can fly to Chicago. I guess I should start packing.

— Michael Aranda (@michaelaranda) August 8, 2012

a waltz
in balancing~
she is
a whimper away
from
falling
flying
dancing#Poetryin13
📷by me pic.twitter.com/VKjXBXD2B7

— Poetkisses (@poetkisses) February 18, 2021

Try using fly!

Is fly used correctly in the following sentence?

A caterpillar spends its life on the ground until it turns into a butterfly and uses its wings to fly through the air.

How to use fly in a sentence

The notion that Republican electoral victories require massive political inequality flies in the face of all kinds of common sense.
America needs a democratic revolution|Matthew Yglesias|September 17, 2020|Vox
It also has a built-in can holder, as well as a large pocket for a phone and a small fly box.
The Gear That Lets Me Enjoy the Last Days of Summer|Graham Averill|September 15, 2020|Outside Online
Eventually, the hatched queen flies off with about half the worker bees to start a new colony.
Quacks and toots help young honeybee queens avoid deadly duels|Sharon Oosthoek|September 14, 2020|Science News For Students
Rather than figuring it out and building that plane as we fly it, we were in a position so to mold the clay that we have been getting already.
Deep Dive: How the Summer of 2020 forced brand marketing to change for the better|jim cooper|September 14, 2020|Digiday

The day the derby began, dozens of cases were confirmed, with some isolated in a school building and at least 20 others flown out of town via helicopter.
How a Swiss Ski Resort Was Ravaged by Typhoid and Survived|Daniel Malloy|September 9, 2020|Ozy
Andrew still plans to fly to Davos in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum on January 21, representing the British government.
From Playboy Prince to Dirty Old Man?|Tom Sykes|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After some animated debate at the conference, Lelaie declared, with some frustration, “If you push on the stick, you will fly.”
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Thus it attracted a wave of cowboy operators to fly passengers and cargo between cities.
Who Will Get AsiaAir 8501’s Black Boxes?|Clive Irving|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many of these are small operations that would never, in any case, fly beyond Indonesia.
Who Will Get AsiaAir 8501’s Black Boxes?|Clive Irving|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Air traffic controllers and pilots together take great care not to fly in conditions that can jeopardize an airplane.
Did Bad Weather Bring Down AirAsia 8501?|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Aristide darted off like a dragon-fly in the sunshine, as happy as a child with a new toy.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
“Confound it, no;” rejoined Mr. Simmery, stopping for an instant to smash a fly with the ruler.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
They must be kept away from flies—a fly can work havoc with a film in a few minutes.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The non-elastic character of water made it unsuitable for a machine requiring a fly-wheel.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
What of the infinite goodness of God in teaching the grub of the ichneumon-fly to eat up the cabbage caterpillar alive?
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford

British Dictionary definitions for fly (1 of 3)

fly¹

/ (flaɪ) /

verb flies, flying, flew or flown

(intr) (of birds, aircraft, etc) to move through the air in a controlled manner using aerodynamic forces

to travel over (an area of land or sea) in an aircraft

to operate (an aircraft or spacecraft)

to float, flutter, or be displayed in the air or cause to float, etc, in this wayto fly a kite; they flew the flag

to transport or be transported by or through the air by aircraft, wind, etc

(intr) to move or be moved very quickly, forcibly, or suddenlyshe came flying towards me; the door flew open

(intr) to pass swiftlytime flies

to escape from (an enemy, place, etc); fleehe flew the country

(intr; may be foll by at or upon) to attack a person

(intr) to have a sudden outbursthe flew into a rage again

(intr) (of money, etc) to vanish rapidly

(tr) falconry (of hawks) to fly at (quarry) in attackperegrines fly rooks

(tr) theatre to suspend (scenery) above the stage so that it may be lowered into view

fly a kite

to procure money by an accommodation bill
to release information or take a step in order to test public opinion

fly high informal

to have a high aim
to prosper or flourish

fly in the face of See face (def. 19)

fly off the handle informal to lose one's temper

fly the coop US and Canadian informal to leave suddenly

go fly a kite US and Canadian informal go away

let fly informal

to lose one's temper (with a person)she really let fly at him
to shoot or throw (an object)

noun plural flies

Also called: fly front (often plural) a closure that conceals a zip, buttons, or other fastening, by having one side overlapping, as on trousers

Also called: fly sheet

a flap forming the entrance to a tent
a piece of canvas drawn over the ridgepole of a tent to form an outer roof

a small air brake used to control the chiming of large clocks

the horizontal weighted arm of a fly press

the outer edge of a flag
the distance from the outer edge of a flag to the staffCompare hoist (def. 9)

British a light one-horse covered carriage formerly let out on hire

Australian and NZ an attemptI'll give it a fly

printing

a device for transferring printed sheets from the press to a flat pile
Also called: flyhand a person who collects and stacks printed matter from a printing press
a piece of paper folded once to make four pages, with printing only on the first page

(plural) theatre the space above the stage out of view of the audience, used for storing scenery, etc

rare the act of flying

Derived forms of fly

flyable, adjective

Word Origin for fly

Old English flēogan; related to Old Frisian fliāga, Old High German fliogan, Old Norse fljūga

British Dictionary definitions for fly (2 of 3)

fly²

/ (flaɪ) /

noun plural flies

any dipterous insect, esp the housefly, characterized by active flightSee also horsefly, blowfly, tsetse fly, crane fly

any of various similar but unrelated insects, such as the caddis fly, firefly, dragonfly, and chalcid fly

angling a lure made from a fish-hook dressed with feathers, tinsel, etc, to resemble any of various flies or nymphs: used in fly-fishingSee also dry fly, wet fly

(in southern Africa) an area that is infested with the tsetse fly

drink with the flies Australian slang to drink alone

fly in amber See amber (def. 2)

fly in the ointment informal a slight flaw that detracts from value, completeness, or enjoyment

fly on the wall a person who watches others, while not being noticed himself or herself

there are no flies on him informal he is no fool

Derived forms of fly

flyless, adjective

Word Origin for fly

Old English flēoge; related to Old Norse fluga Old High German flioga; see fly 1

British Dictionary definitions for fly (3 of 3)

fly³

/ (flaɪ) /

adjective flyer or flyest slang

mainly British knowing and sharp; smart

mainly Scot furtive or sneaky

noun

on the fly mainly Scot in secret; sneakily

Word Origin for fly

C19: of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for fly

fly

[ flī ]

Any of numerous insects of the order Diptera, having one pair of wings and large compound eyes. Flies include the houseflies, horseflies, and mosquitoes. See more at dipteran.

fly

Idioms about fly

Origin of fly

OTHER WORDS FROM fly

Words nearby fly

Other definitions for fly (2 of 3)

Origin of fly

synonym study for fly

OTHER WORDS FROM fly

Other definitions for fly (3 of 3)

Origin of fly

MORE ABOUT FLY

What is a basic definition of fly?

Where does fly come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is fly used in real life?

Try using fly!

Words related to fly

How to use fly in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fly (1 of 3)

Derived forms of fly

Word Origin for fly

British Dictionary definitions for fly (2 of 3)

Derived forms of fly

Word Origin for fly

British Dictionary definitions for fly (3 of 3)

Word Origin for fly

Scientific definitions for fly