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flying

FLY-ing/ˈflaɪ.ɪŋ/

9 meanings of flying

Practice

  1. 1
    verb
    Present participle of fly. It often comes after is, are, or was.

    The geese are flying south for the winter.

    He is flying home for the holidays tomorrow.

    Note
  2. 2
    airborneadjective
    Moving through the air, or able to move through the air, often using wings.

    Flying insects kept bumping into the window all evening.

    Bats are flying mammals that hunt for insects at night.

    Similarwinged, airborne

    Oppositeflightless

    Note
  3. 3
    noununcountable
    Moving through the air, or traveling in or flying a plane.

    Like a bird staying up in the sky as it travels from place to place.

    Flying always makes her nervous, so she takes a pill before each trip.

    He enjoys flying more than any other way to travel.

    UsageSay afraid of flying, with no a. One trip on a plane is a flight.

    Note
  4. 4
    adjective
    Able to move very fast and change places quickly.

    Like a team that can rush anywhere at a moment's notice.

    The police sent a flying squad to handle the emergency.

    A flying squad of police can rush to trouble anywhere in the city.

    UsageMost often in flying squad or flying column.

    Similarmobile, roving

    Oppositestationary, static

flying is a form of fly

fly, verb: To move through the air without touching the ground. Full entry

Forms
flyflies he/she/itflying -ing formflew past tenseflown past participle
Spelling
fly → flying: add -ing

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of flying apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–2, 4–5

This comes from Old English flēogende, which meant 'flying' and came from the verb 'to fly'.

Meaning 3

This comes from Middle English flyinge, made from 'fly' plus '-ing'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts