flying

pronunciation

How to pronounce flying in British English: UK [ˈflaɪɪŋ]word uk audio image

How to pronounce flying in American English: US [ˈflaɪɪŋ] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    an instance of traveling by air
  • Adjective:
    capable of or engaged in flight
    moving swiftly
    streaming or flapping or spreading wide as if in a current of air
    designed for swift movement or action
    of or relating to passage through the air especially aviation
    hurried and brief
    done swiftly in or as if in the air; used e.g. of a racing start in which runners are already in motion as they cross the starting line

Word Origin

flying (adj.)
early 15c., replacing forms from Old English fleogende "flying, winged;" present participle adjective from fly (v.1). The meaning "attached so as to have freedom of movement" (1670s) is the source of the nautical use (flying jib, etc.). Meaning "designed for rapid movement" (especially in military terms) is from 1660s; meaning "passing, hasty, temporary, rapidly constructed" is from 1763. Flying fish is from 1510s; flying buttress is from 1660s. Flying Dutchman, ghost ship off the Cape of Good Hope, is attested since 1803 [John Leyden, "Scenes of Infancy," who describes it as "a common superstition of mariners"]. Flying colors (1706) probably is from the image of a naval vessel with the national flag bravely displayed. Flying machine is from 1736 as a theoretical device. Flying saucer first attested 1947, though the image of saucers for unidentified flying objects is from at least 1880s.

Synonym

Example

1. So we 're flying in an incredibly hazardous environment .
2. At one point he was flying off the ground .
3. The smallest spec of flying debris could cause serious damage to your pet 's eye or nose , says petautosafety.com .
4. The accident did not stop her from flying .
5. The show includes flying displays of all kinds .

more: >How to Use "flying" with Example Sentences