Definitions

flies

VERB

take to the air, usually employing wings

Synonyms

STRONGEST

circle climb cross drift float flutter glide operate pilot reach rush sail shoot speed swoop take off travel

STRONG

aviate barnstorm buzz circumnavigate control dart dash dive flat-hat fleet flit hop hover hurry jet maneuver mount scud seagull skim skirt soar whisk whiz whoosh wing zip zoom

WEAK

bend the throttle jet out jet over remain aloft sky out take a hop take flight take wing wing in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

remain slow stay

STRONG

decelerate rest

WEAK

confront face land stay on ground walk

VERB

run or pass swiftly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flee glide pass race rush shoot speed

STRONG

barrel bolt breeze career dart dash elapse flit hasten hurry hustle roll scamper scoot sprint tear whiz zoom

WEAK

go like the wind make off run its course slip away

Antonyms

STRONGEST

slow

STRONG

dally dawdle decelerate delay procrastinate rest wait

WEAK

confront face land remain stay stay on ground walk

VERB

escape, flee

Synonyms

STRONGEST

break disappear run take off withdraw

STRONG

abscond avoid bolt clear decamp hide hightail skedaddle skip

WEAK

clear out cut and run get away hasten away light out make a getaway make a quick exit make off run for it run from steal away take flight

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow arrive obey stay

STRONG

face meet open

WEAK

confront land remain stay on ground walk

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Secretary Brooke Rollins said the agency had already deployed millions of sterile flies after the first Texas case was confirmed last week, and would continue with more releases in newly confirmed areas.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Eradication was possible through the sterile insect technique, which uses gamma radiation to irradiate screwworm pupae and create sterile male flies.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

US officials said some four million sterile flies are now being released weekly from the sky, and that some four million more in the pupae stage were being deployed in ground release chambers.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

However, officials say that they will need to breed up to 600 million sterile screwworms flies each week in order to fight back the outbreak.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

It could be a spaceship ’cause of how it looks, or a rocket as fast as it flies.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas