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

By launching these weapons from long range and far from Iran’s borders it would avoid the need for Israeli warplanes to overfly certain countries in the region like Jordan.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2024

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

Nets are for thrushes, eagles are not caught so: We'll overfly or rend them.

From The Works of Lord Byron. Vol. 5 Poetry by Coleridge, Ernest Hartley