Fly: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when talking about the general act of moving through the air, often at a high speed or altitude. It can be used for birds, insects, planes, or even in a metaphorical sense.

• Birds fly south for the winter.
• The plane will fly over the mountains.
• Time flies when you're having fun.

Typically used to describe rising high in the air with ease and often at great height. Commonly used for birds of prey and metaphorically for things that rise or improve dramatically.

• The hawk soared high above the trees.
• Her spirits soared when she heard the good news.

Appropriate when describing smooth, effortless movement through the air, often for birds or planes moving with minimal wing movement.

• The eagle glided gracefully over the valley.
• The glider silently glided through the sky.

Best used to describe quick, light movements, often erratic and without a definite direction. Usually used for small creatures like birds or insects.

• The butterfly flitted from flower to flower.
• She watched the bats flit around in the evening sky.

Use for situations where something remains stationary in the air, maintaining its position without moving lateral distances. Common for helicopters, drones, and certain insects like hummingbirds.

• The helicopter hovered above the landing pad.
• The dragonfly hovered over the pond.

Use 'fly' when discussing the movement of something swiftly through the air, often used for light objects, insects, or the motion of a ball or projectile.

• The kite flies high in the sky.
• Watch the ball fly during the baseball game.

'Travel' is a general term for the act of moving from one place to another. It can refer to transportation by any means—air, road, sea, or rail—and is commonly used in everyday language.

• I love to travel during my holidays.
• He has to travel a lot for work.

'Journey' refers to the act of traveling from one place to another, often with a focus on the experience or adventure involved. It is broader than just traveling by air and can denote travel by any means.

• Their journey to the mountains took several days.
• We embarked on a journey to discover new cultures.

'Go by air' is a more formal or explicit way to refer to traveling using an airplane. It might be used in official contexts or when distinguishing it from other modes of travel.

• She prefers to go by air instead of driving.
• Due to time constraints, I have decided to go by air.

Same as above.

A scientific or formal term for creatures like ants, bees, butterflies, and flies. Often used in educational or scientific contexts.

• Insects are vital for pollination
• The biologist studied different kinds of insects

Used to describe insects or animals that are considered annoying, harmful, or destructive. It has a negative connotation.

• The garden was overrun by pests
• We need a pest control service to deal with the infestation

A general term for small insects, often used casually when identifying various small crawling or flying creatures. It can also refer to issues in software development.

• There's a bug in your hair! The new software update fixed a lot of bugs