flying
B1Neutral to formal; common in everyday, technical, and literary contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The action or process of moving through the air, typically using wings or an aircraft.
Operating or functioning at great speed or with a sense of urgency; moving or passing quickly; a term used in various sports (e.g., flying tackle, flying start).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily the present participle/gerund of the verb 'fly', but also functions as an adjective (e.g., flying visit) and adverb (e.g., come flying). The adjectival use often implies briefness, speed, or being airborne.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'flying' identically in core meanings. Minor differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'flying picket' more common in UK historical/labour context).
Connotations
Similar connotations of speed, freedom, and transience in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] + be + flying + [PREP] to/from/over[SUBJ] + go flying[DET] + flying + [NOUN] (adjectival)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “with flying colours”
- “flying high”
- “go flying”
- “a flying visit”
- “send someone flying”
- “time flies/flying”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We're flying to Frankfurt for the quarterly review." (travel); "The new product is flying off the shelves." (selling quickly).
Academic
"The study of bird flying mechanics is a complex field of biomechanics."
Everyday
"I'm terrified of flying." "The kids came flying down the stairs."
Technical
"The aircraft achieved stable flying conditions at 35,000 feet."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She is flying to Edinburgh for a conference.
- The birds were flying south for the winter.
- He went flying when he tripped on the kerb.
American English
- She is flying to Atlanta for a conference.
- The birds were flying south for the winter.
- He went flying when he tripped on the curb.
adverb
British English
- The door burst open and he came flying into the room.
- She ran flying down the high street to catch the bus.
American English
- The door burst open and he came flying into the room.
- She went flying down Main Street to catch the bus.
adjective
British English
- He paid a flying visit to his family in Leeds.
- The circus featured amazing flying trapeze artists.
- They made a flying start to the project.
American English
- He paid a flying visit to his family in Chicago.
- The circus featured amazing flying trapeze artists.
- They got off to a flying start on the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like flying in airplanes.
- Look! A bird is flying!
- He is afraid of flying.
- We will be flying to Spain for our holiday next week.
- The children came flying out of school when the bell rang.
- She passed her driving test with flying colours.
- Despite the turbulence, the pilot ensured a smooth flying experience.
- The company's shares are flying high after the successful product launch.
- He made a flying visit to headquarters before catching his connecting flight.
- The documentary explored the aerodynamics of insect flying, challenging previous assumptions.
- Her career in diplomacy really took off, and she's been flying between capitals ever since.
- The concept of a flying car has transitioned from science fiction to a tangible engineering challenge.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FLY with WINGS. FLY + WING (sounds like 'ing') = FLYING.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED/SUCCESS IS UPWARD FLIGHT (e.g., 'flying high', 'career is taking off'); TIME PASSING QUICKLY IS AN ENTITY IN FLIGHT (e.g., 'time is flying').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'flying' as 'летучий' in all contexts. 'Летучий' typically means 'volatile' or 'mobile' (as in 'летучий отряд'). For 'flying visit' use 'короткий визит', not 'летучий визит'.
- Do not confuse the adjective 'flying' (летающий, воздушный) with the noun 'flight' (полёт).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'flying' as a noun to mean 'flight' (e.g., 'I have a flying to catch' INCORRECT; 'I have a flight to catch' CORRECT).
- Overusing the progressive form with stative verbs of perception (e.g., 'I am seeing birds flying' is acceptable, but 'I am hearing a plane flying' is less natural).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'flying' used as an adjective?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily the present participle of the verb 'fly', but it is also commonly used as a true adjective (e.g., 'flying doctor', 'flying visit'). The context determines its function.
It is an idiom meaning 'with great success or distinction,' often used for passing tests or completing tasks exceptionally well. It originates from naval flags (colours) being flown high in victory.
'Flying' is the action or process (verb/gerund/adjective). 'Flight' is the noun referring to the instance or journey of flying (e.g., 'a flight to Paris'), the ability to fly, or a group of stairs.
Yes, metaphorically. We say 'time is flying' (passing quickly), 'rumours are flying' (spreading rapidly), or 'he went flying' (fell or moved through the air suddenly).