flyover

American  

[flahy-oh-ver] / ˈflaɪˌoʊ vər /

noun

1. a formation of aircraft in flight for observation from the ground, especially a prearranged, low-altitude flight over a public gathering.

2. a flight over a simulated target by a bomber or bombing planes.

3. a flight over a specified area, as for viewing.

   We booked a one-hour flyover of the Grand Canyon.

4. the action of passing or flying overhead.

   rumors of another UFO flyover.

5. British. an overhead crossing, especially a highway overpass.

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adjective

1. Informal: Usually Disparaging. noting a state or region of the United States between the East and West Coasts that is not typically considered to be a tourist destination and is flown over during transcontinental flights.

   You know, some of the most prestigious universities are located in flyover country, so try not to be such an East Coast snob.

flyover British  

/ ˈflaɪˌəʊvə /

noun

1. Also called: overpass.

   1. an intersection of two roads at which one is carried over the other by a bridge

   2. such a bridge

2. the US name for fly-past

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Etymology

Origin of flyover

First recorded in 1900–05; noun and adjective use of verb phrase fly over

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flyover

A cliché in depictions of flyover country is that people’s staid behavior disguises their bizarre depths.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

"There's a 10-minute flyover of the lagoon and that's about it. There's no awareness of what's happening."

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

Xi is expected to be greeted personally by Trump at Andrews Air Force Base on Wednesday, followed by a White House welcoming ceremony on Thursday featuring a military flyover and nearly 500 military personnel.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

But in many ways, the World Cup did a better job of highlighting what the world loves about America than any military flyover ever could.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

On the first of June, airplanes flyover the city, extremely high, crawling through the stratus clouds.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

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