Showing results for "flying"

• present participle of fly.

flying

American  

[flahy-ing] / ˈflaɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

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

   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.

---

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

---

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

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

It plans to phase the scheme in by first expanding the previous government's provision for two-year-olds, which amounts to 12.5 hours a week in Flying Start areas.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

"Flying at supersonic speeds is a major milestone for the X-59 team," Bahm said.

From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026

Some of the Caballero family members also compete internationally as the Flying Caballero — something the youngest Caballero member, Francesco, hopes he can work his way up to.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Flying with President Donald Trump to China, a picture of Rubio went viral as he was decked out in a grey Nike tracksuit.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

“My parents. They died. They aren’t the Flying Elefantes anymore. They’re not anything anymore. They’re at the bottom of the ocean. They were on a ship that sank. Maybe you heard about it?”

From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo

Related Words

• aerial
• floating
• soaring