fly

flyverb

To fly is to move through the air, and so also to travel by plane or to move or pass very quickly.

1. through the airmove through the air using wings

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • The birds flew south for the winter. V + adv/prep
   • A bee flew in through the window. V + adv/prep
   • An owl flew over our heads. V + adv/prep

   Collocations

   verb + adverb fly away, fly off, fly past, fly high

   noun + verb birds fly, insects fly

2. traveltravel by plane

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] verb + object [V + obj]

   • We flew home the next day. V + adv/prep
   • Are you flying or taking the train?
   • It takes about six hours to fly there.
   • I always fly economy. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition fly to somewhere, fly from somewhere

   verb + noun fly economy, fly business class

3. control a planecontrol a plane or another aircraft

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Her father taught her to fly.
   • He flies helicopters for a living. V + obj
   • The pilot had never flown a plane that big. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fly a plane, fly a helicopter, fly a jet

4. carry by planetake people or goods somewhere by plane

   transitive [T] verb + object + adverb [V + obj + adv] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The injured were flown to the hospital. V + obj + adv (passive)
   • Fresh fruit is flown in from other countries. V + obj + adv (passive)

   Collocations

   verb + adverb fly someone in, fly someone out, fly something home

5. move fastmove or go very quickly or suddenly

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] verb + adjective [V + adj]

   • She flew down the stairs to answer the door. V + adv/prep
   • The door suddenly flew open. V + adj
   • Pieces of glass flew everywhere. V + adv/prep
   • I must fly, or I'll miss my bus. (informal)

   Collocations

   phrase fly open

   verb + adverb fly past, fly everywhere

6. of timepass very quickly

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • The weekend flew by. V + adv/prep
   • I can't believe the years have flown so fast. V + adv/prep

   Collocations

   verb + adverb fly by, fly past

7. flag or kitemake a light toy on a long string stay up in the air, or raise a flag so that it hangs or moves in the air

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The children were flying kites on the beach. V + obj
   • The ship was flying a white flag. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fly a kite, fly a flag