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Flew: meaning, definitions and examples

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flew

 

[ fluː ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

past tense

The word 'flew' is the simple past tense of the verb 'fly'. It describes the action of moving through the air, typically using wings. The term is often used to indicate an action that has already been completed in the past.

Synonyms

glided, hovered, soared

Examples of usage

  • The bird flew over the mountains.
  • She flew to New York last week.
  • The plane flew above the clouds.
  • He flew a kite during the festival.

Translations

Translations of the word "flew" in other languages:

🇵🇹 voou

🇮🇳 उड़ा

🇩🇪 flog

🇮🇩 terbang

🇺🇦 літав

🇵🇱 leciał

🇯🇵 飛んだ

🇫🇷 a volé

🇪🇸 voló

🇹🇷 uçtu

🇰🇷 날았다

🇸🇦 طار

🇨🇿 letěl

🇸🇰 letel

🇨🇳 飞翔了

🇸🇮 letel

🇮🇸 flaug

🇰🇿 ұшты

🇬🇪 ფრინდა

🇦🇿 uçdu

🇲🇽 voló

Word origin

The word 'flew' has its origins in the Old English word 'flēogan', which means 'to fly'. This term is related to other Germanic languages; for instance, it is cognate with the Old High German 'fliohan' and the Dutch 'vliegen'. The development of the word has reflected the evolution of flying as a form of movement, particularly in relation to birds and later human-made flying machines. In Middle English, the word underwent changes in spelling and usage but maintained its connection to aerial movement. The transformation from 'flēogan' to 'flew' in modern English showcases the phonetic shifts typical in the language's development. From its early uses relating primarily to natural flying entities, the term has broadened to encompass a range of contexts, including aviation and metaphorical uses of 'flight'.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,600 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.