English word

Fly

Definitions

verb (1)

  1. to move in or pass through the air with wings
  2. to operate or travel in an airplane or spacecraft
  3. to work successfully : win popular acceptance
  4. to cause to fly, float, or hang in the air
  5. to operate (something, such as a balloon, aircraft, rocket, or spacecraft) in flight
  6. to journey over or through by flying
  7. to flee or escape from
  8. avoid, shun
  9. to transport by aircraft or spacecraft
  10. river 650 miles (1046 kilometers) long in southern New Guinea flowing southeast into the Gulf of Papua
  11. to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space
  12. to float, wave, or soar in the air
  13. to take flight : flee
  14. to fade and disappear : vanish
  15. to move, pass, or spread quickly
  16. to be moved with sudden extreme emotion
  17. to seem to pass quickly
  18. to become expended or dissipated rapidly

Synonyms for fly

Closest evidence-backed alternatives.

  • glide
  • hover
  • plane
  • soar
  • float
  • wing
  • sail
  • drift
  • mount
  • aviate
  • wheel
  • hang
  • circle

Synonyms by context

To move or glide through the air

verb

  • flit
  • flutter

To be transported in an aircraft

verb

  • airlift
  • jet
  • lift
  • send by plane
  • take by plane
  • transport by air
  • transport by plane
  • take in an aircraft
  • transport
  • transfer

To move through the air in an aircraft

verb

  • stream
  • air-dash
  • go by plane
  • travel by air
  • go by air
  • travel by plane
  • travel in an aircraft
  • cruise

(slang, dated) Mentally sharp

adjective

  • astute
  • sharp
  • shrewd
  • acute
  • canny
  • clever
  • knowing
  • streetwise
  • wily
  • downy

(slang) Smart in appearance

adjective

Having or showing skill in achieving one's ends, especially by deceit

adjective

  • foxy
  • cunning
  • sly
  • crafty
  • artful
  • devious
  • guileful
  • tricky

Any of various small two-winged flies

noun

  • gnat
  • insect
  • midge
  • bug
  • firefly
  • mosquito
  • mozzie
  • punkie
  • no-see-um
  • flea

Noxious or annoying small animals or insects

noun

  • vermin
  • pest
  • arthropod
  • minibeast
  • parasite
  • pestilence

Antonyms for fly

  • drive
  • walk
  • run
  • step
  • strut
  • dash
  • jog
  • march
  • meander
  • promenade
  • shuffle
  • sprint

Opposite of to move or glide through the air

Opposite of to be transported in an aircraft

  • chauffeur
  • ferry
  • transport
  • bring
  • carry
  • take

Opposite of to move through the air in an aircraft

  • motor
  • scooter
  • bowl along
  • go by car
  • ride by car
  • tool along
  • travel by car
  • travel on wheels

(slang, dated) Opposite of mentally sharp

  • gullible
  • naive
  • credulous
  • ingenuous
  • dupable
  • foolish
  • susceptible
  • trustful
  • trusting
  • unsuspicious

(slang) Opposite of smart in appearance

  • uncool
  • unhip
  • untrendy
  • styleless
  • unfashionable
  • unstylish
  • dowdy
  • inelegant
  • outmoded
  • unchic

Opposite of neat and trim in dress and appearance

  • disheveled
  • dishevelled
  • frowsy
  • frowzy
  • sloppy
  • slovenly
  • unkempt
  • scruffy
  • rumpled

Phrases

  • bend the throttle
  • dig in
  • foot it
  • go by foot
  • go on foot
  • jet out
  • jet over
  • leg it
  • make your way
  • remain aloft
  • sky out
  • take a hop
  • take to the air
  • take wing
  • travel on foot
  • travel through the air
  • whiz by
  • wing in
  • wing its way