overfly

American  

[oh-ver-flahy] / ˌoʊ vərˈflaɪ /

verb (used with object)

overflew, overflown, overflying

1. to fly over (a specified area, territory, country, etc.).

   The plane lost its way and overflew foreign territory.

2. to fly farther than or beyond; overshoot.

3. to fly over or past instead of making a scheduled stop.

   to overfly Philadelphia because of bad weather.

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verb (used without object)

overflew, overflown, overflying

1. to fly over a particular territory, country, etc..

   The plane approached the border but never overflew.

overfly British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈflaɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to fly over (a territory) or past (a point)

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Etymology

Origin of overfly

First recorded in 1550–60; over- + fly ²

Example Sentences

Their competitive position has been further strengthened since 2022 by Russia's closure of its airspace to Western and Japanese carriers, while Gulf and Turkish airlines continue to overfly and serve the country.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

Risch intends to “reroute aircraft taking off/landing from Boise Airport so that they would overfly neighborhoods in Meridian instead of flying over his property near the airport,” Coose wrote from his personal email account.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 17, 2023

"Given the current circumstances and complexities, we're opting to use one of our alternative flight paths that doesn't overfly Russia, while we continue to monitor this evolving situation," it said in a statement.

From Reuters • Feb. 27, 2022

Duqm is still over 1000 miles away from the Afghan border and any troop-carrying aircraft would still need to overfly Pakistan.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2021

This bird shall overfly the world from east to furthest west *      And that shall win her every wish though ne'er she leave the      nest.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 01 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir