Antonyms for fly
| Grammar : Verb |
| Spell : flahy |
| Phonetic Transcription : flaɪ |
Definition of fly
Origin :- Old English fleoge "fly, winged insect," from Proto-Germanic *fleugjon (cf. Old Saxon fleiga, Old Norse fluga, Middle Dutch vlieghe, Dutch vlieg, Old High German flioga, German Fliege "fly); literally "the flying (insect)" (cf. Old English fleogende "flying"), from same source as fly (v.1).
- Originally any winged insect (hence butterfly, etc.); long used by farmers and gardeners for any insect parasite. The Old English plural in -n (cf. oxen) gradually normalized 13c.-15c. to -s. Fly on the wall "unseen observer" first recorded 1881. An Old English word for "curtain" was fleonet "fly-net." Fly-swatter first attested 1917. Fly-fishing is from 1650s.
- verb take to the air, usually employing wings
- verb run or pass swiftly
- verb escape, flee
- I fly to seek a kindlier sphere, Since thou hast ceased to love me here.
- Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
- Should not one fly the man who is but suspected of such a one?
- Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
- I have thirteen arrows yet, and if one of them fly unfleshed, then, by the twang of string!
- Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Chip carefully brushed a fly off Polly's flank with the whip.
- Extract from : « Chip, of the Flying U » by B. M. Bower
- Now fly; for the other Gorgons will do their utmost to take vengeance for Medusa's death.
- Extract from : « The Gorgon's Head » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- It is a wonder that the sparks did not fly, the Devil struck so hard on the hot iron.
- Extract from : « Quaint Courtships » by Various
- She fortunately caught them, but then the handkerchiefs began to fly.
- Extract from : « The Dream » by Emile Zola
- It made Tom fly, but it took the stiffening all out of my legs.
- Extract from : « Tom Sawyer Abroad » by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
- They are to us like the sun and moon and stars, to which we cannot fly.
- Extract from : « Green Mansions » by W. H. Hudson
- "They haven't the strength to protect a fly," John whispered to his neighbour.
- Extract from : « The Foolish Lovers » by St. John G. Ervine
Synonyms for fly
- abscond
- aviate
- avoid
- barnstorm
- barrel
- bend the throttle
- bolt
- break
- breeze
- buzz
- career
- circle
- circumnavigate
- clear
- clear out
- climb
- control
- cross
- cut and run
- dart
- dash
- decamp
- disappear
- dive
- drift
- elapse
- flat-hat
- flee
- fleet
- flit
- float
- flutter
- get away
- glide
- go like the wind
- hasten
- hasten away
- hide
- hightail
- hop
- hover
- hurry
- hustle
- jet
- jet out
- jet over
- light out
- make a getaway
- make a quick exit
- make off
- maneuver
- mount
- operate
- pass
- pilot
- race
- reach
- remain aloft
- roll
- run
- run for it
- run from
- run its course
- rush
- sail
- scamper
- scoot
- scud
- seagull
- shoot
- skedaddle
- skim
- skip
- skirt
- sky out
- slip away
- soar
- speed
- sprint
- steal away
- swoop
- take a hop
- take flight
- take off
- take wing
- tear
- travel
- whisk
- whiz
- whoosh
- wing
- wing in
- withdraw
- zip
- zoom
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019