flight
Pluralflights
Pluralflights
Formsflights, flighting, flighted
- 1A trip through the air in a plane, helicopter, or other aircraft, often booked ahead of time.
Like a bus ride, but in the sky between two airports.
Our flight to Chicago leaves at six in the morning.
She booked a cheap flight for the winter break.
UsageYou book, catch or miss a flight, and you travel on a flight.
Note
- 2
- 3A single time that a bird, plane, or object moves through the air.
Like one jump, but moving through the air the whole way.
The bird's first flight from the nest amazed the children.
Each flight of the small drone lasted only a few minutes.
- 4The act of running away from danger.
Like running away as fast as you can when something scary appears.
The thieves took flight the moment the alarm rang.
Her flight from the angry dog ended at the garden fence.
UsageOften take flight, which means run away.
Similarescape, retreat, exodus, getaway, withdrawal
Note
- 5A set of stairs that runs without a break from one level spot to the next.
Like a ladder split into a long line of steps.
We walked up one flight to reach the second floor.
There are two flights of stairs in the old house.
UsageSay a flight of stairs, or climb two flights.
Similarstaircase, stairway, stairs
Note
- 6A few small glasses of different drinks, such as beer or wine, served together to taste and compare.
Like trying small cups of several drinks to compare them.
We ordered a flight of local beers at the brewery.
The pub serves a flight so you can try several drinks.
UsageSay a flight of beers, or a wine flight.
- 7A small air force unit, usually consisting of several aircraft and their crews.
Like a small team that is part of a much bigger group.
He joined a flight in the air force after finishing training.
The whole flight was sent to guard the coast.
Similarformation
Less common meanings
- 8A burst of imagination or dreamy thinking.
Like daydreaming and letting your thoughts wander wherever they want.
His mind went on a flight of fancy during the boring class.
The story is a wild flight of imagination about talking animals.
UsageUsed in a flight of fancy or a flight of imagination.
- 9The curved path of an arrow or another object shot or thrown through the air.
Like the curved path a thrown stone makes before it lands.
We watched the flight of the arrow across the field.
A strong gust changed the flight of the ball.
Similartrajectory, path, course, arc
- 10A group of birds, such as doves or swallows, flying together.
Like calling a group of wolves a pack, a group of these birds is a flight.
A flight of swallows swept low over the meadow at dusk.
We watched a flight of doves rise from the rooftop.
Similarflock
- 11A feather or small fin at the back of a dart or arrow that helps it fly straight.
Like the fins on a small rocket that keep it pointed the right way.
The dart's flight came loose during the game.
She glued a new flight onto the arrow.
Note
- 12The way a spinning ball moves through the air, including its speed, path, and drift.
Like the curving path a spinning ball takes as it sails through the air.
The bowler's clever flight deceived the batsman into a rash stroke.
Good flight on the ball drew the batter well out of the crease.
Note
- 13To throw, kick or bowl a ball so it goes higher and slower through the air.
Like lobbing a ball high over someone's head instead of throwing it straight at them.
Watch how they flight the ball to clear the defensive wall.
She flighted the pass beautifully onto her teammate's chest.
UsageThe past form is flighted, as in flighted the ball.
Similarloft
Note
- 14A series of canal locks built close together so boats can climb a slope.
Like a set of steps for boats, lifting them up a hill one stage at a time.
The narrowboat took nearly two hours to work up the flight at Caen Hill.
Our canal boat took three hours to climb the flight of locks.
- 15Very fast and quick-moving.
Note
- 16A level of a building that you reach by going up stairs or an escalator.
- 17A set period of time during which an advertisement is run.
- 18A folded paper toy that you throw to make it glide through the air.
- 19The raised, winding ridge that forms the thread of a screw.
- 20A numbered version of a warship class that adds step-by-step upgrades to the original design.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From Old English flyht, related to the verb "to fly." It also comes from a very old root meaning "to fly" or "flow."
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Flight comes from Old English flyht. en.wiktionary.org
- Flight is related to the verb fly. en.wiktionary.org
- Flight ultimately comes from an ancient root associated with flying and flowing. en.wiktionary.org
From Old English flyht, related to the verb "to flee."
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Flight derives from Old English flyht. en.wiktionary.org
- Flight is related to the verb flee. en.wiktionary.org