flying

American  

[flahy-ing] / ˈflaɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. making flight or passing through the air; that flies: fly.

   a flying insect; an unidentified flying object.

2. floating, fluttering, waving, hanging, or moving freely in the air.

   flying banners; flying hair.

3. extending through the air.

4. moving swiftly.

5. made while moving swiftly.

   a flying leap.

6. very hasty or brief; fleeting or transitory.

   a flying visit; a flying remark.

7. designed or organized for swift movement or action.

8. fleeing, running away, or taking flight.

   They pursued the flying enemy.

9. Nautical. (of a sail) having none of its edges fastened to spars or stays.

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noun

1. the act of moving through the air on wings; flight.

adverb

1. Nautical. without being fastened to a yard, stay, or the like.

   a sail set flying.

flying British  

/ ˈflaɪɪŋ /

adjective

1. (prenominal) hurried; fleeting

   a flying visit

2. (prenominal) designed for fast action

3. (prenominal) moving or passing quickly on or as if on wings

   a flying leap

   the flying hours

4. hanging, waving, or floating freely

   flying hair

5. nautical (of a sail) not hauled in tight against the wind

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noun

1. the act of piloting, navigating, or travelling in an aircraft

2. (modifier) relating to, capable of, accustomed to, or adapted for flight

   a flying machine

Other Word Forms

• nonflying adjective
• unflying adjective

Etymology

Origin of flying

before 1000; Middle English (noun); Old English flēogende (adj.). See fly ², -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The clatter of any passing carriage sent her flying to the window.

From Literature

Carney was flying to India on Thursday to seek closer trade ties, as part of his strategy to backstop Canada's economy should free trade with the US collapse.

From Barron's

I’ve gone from broadcasting a daily radio show, writing a weekly column, flying to deliver at least one lecture a week, and taking at least one listener cruise a year to a bedridden life.

From The Wall Street Journal

It took him a fraction of a second to realize that he was still flying—and alive.

From The Wall Street Journal

The fan from west Yorkshire says flying to the Czech Republic with her friends would be unaffordable.

From BBC

Related Words

• aerial
• floating
• soaring