1
as in hovered
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings
the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in escaped
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in travelled
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fled
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disappeared
to cease to be visible
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in worked
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the familiar "Because I said so!" is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flew
Verb
-
The price in 2024 hovered around the dollar mark.—
Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
-
In Gabon, youth unemployment has hovered above 35% in recent years.—
Verb
-
India escaped the scary moment unscathed.—
-
Anderson, who retired his first 10 batters, walked the bases loaded with one out in the fourth, but escaped the jam by striking out Jeremy Peña and getting Diaz to line out.—
Verb
-
Acosta-Hernandez fled the vehicle on foot and officers established a perimeter.—
-
Due to sanctuary city policies, he was released and fled upon seeing ICE agents.—
Verb
-
She’s disappeared into history.—
-
And yet, this unexpectedly addicting appetizer disappeared quickly from the buffet table, and everyone was bestowing compliments on me.—
Verb
-
Some of the stream's elements worked, but it was still plagued by technical mishaps.—
-
But then again, just about every orchestra was better off for having worked with Ozawa, whose performances melded gloss and ruddy viscerality.—
Verb
-
But while there are still a lot of questions to be answered, the prospect of a Pixel-like camera design seems to have retreated.—
-
It’s hardly been altered in the 17,000 years or so since those glaciers retreated.—
Verb
-
Some visions of moral progress look forward to a world in which the in-group/out-group distinction has vanished.—
-
Continue reading … MISSING IN ACTION – Congresswoman who quietly vanished from Capitol Hill has been living in a retirement facility.—
Verb
-
Almost every massive star who has passed through MLS — including Messi — was subject to the process.—
-
It’s been more than a decade since ICE was kicked off of Rikers after the City Council passed and then-Mayor Bill de Blasio barring the feds.—
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Flew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flew. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share