Flee vs. Fly: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Flee" means to run away from danger or a threat, while "fly" refers to moving through the air using wings.
Key Differences
"Flee" refers to escaping from a place or situation due to danger or threat, often implying urgency and haste. In contrast, "Fly" denotes the action of moving through the air, typically with wings, such as birds or airplanes.
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Nov 23, 2023
While "flee" suggests a response to peril, often conveying a sense of panic or immediate necessity, "fly" focuses on the manner of movement, unrelated to danger, and often involves control and direction.
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Nov 23, 2023
"Flee" is primarily used in the context of escaping from danger or avoiding an undesirable situation, emphasizing a physical or metaphorical departure. "Fly," however, is associated with the act of airborne travel, either literally (as in birds) or figuratively (as in time flying).
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Nov 23, 2023
The word "flee" often appears in scenarios depicting escape or avoidance, highlighting a reactive action. On the other hand, "fly" is more versatile, used in contexts ranging from travel and freedom to speed and ease.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 23, 2023
"Flee" carries a sense of urgency and compulsion, often used in life-threatening or high-stress situations. Conversely, "fly" can imply freedom, exploration, and sometimes speed, showcasing a broad range of uses from literal to metaphorical.
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Nov 23, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To escape from danger or threat.
To move through the air using wings.
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Nov 23, 2023
Usage Context
Urgent escape, avoidance of danger.
Airborne travel, freedom, speed.
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Nov 23, 2023
Figurative Use
Escaping a situation metaphorically.
Achieving high speed, soaring success.
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Nov 23, 2023
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Flee and Fly Definitions
Flee
To run away from an undesirable situation.
He fled the scene of the crime.
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Nov 13, 2023
Flee
To run away from responsibilities or duties.
She fled her duties as a caretaker.
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Nov 13, 2023
Flee
To escape quickly from a place due to danger.
The villagers fled the erupting volcano.
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Nov 13, 2023
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Flee
To leave a place very quickly.
They fled the party after the fight broke out.
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Nov 13, 2023
Flee
To run away, as from trouble or danger
Fled from the house into the night.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flee
To pass swiftly away; vanish
"of time fleeing beneath him" (William Faulkner).
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To rise in or be carried through the air by the wind
A kite flying above the playground.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flee
(intransitive) To run away; to escape.
The prisoner tried to flee, but was caught by the guards.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To move or be sent through the air with great speed
Bullets flying in every direction.
A plate that flew from my hands when I stumbled.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flee
(transitive) To escape from.
Many people fled the country as war loomed.
Thousands of people moved northward trying to flee the drought.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flee
(intransitive) To disappear quickly; to vanish.
Ethereal products flee once freely exposed to air.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To be communicated to many people
Rumors are flying about their breakup.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flee
To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or cowardly manner; to hasten off; - usually with from. This is sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive.
[He] cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.
Flee fornication.
So fled his enemies my warlike father.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Past tense and past participle flied (flīd) Baseball To hit a fly ball.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To become suddenly emotional, especially angry
The driver flew into a rage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(Informal) To gain acceptance or approval; go over
"However sophisticated the reasoning, this particular notion may not fly" (New York Times).
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(Nautical) To operate under (a particular flag)
A tanker that flies the Liberian flag.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To carry or transport in an aircraft or spacecraft
Fly emergency supplies to a stricken area.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To pass over or through in flight
Flew the coastal route in record time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
The opening, or the fastening that closes this opening, on the front of a pair of pants.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
A piece of protective fabric secured over a tent and often extended over the entrance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Flies The area directly over the stage of a theater, containing overhead lights, drop curtains, and equipment for raising and lowering sets.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera, especially any of the family Muscidae, which includes the housefly.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
A fishing lure simulating something a fish eats, such as a mayfly or a minnow, made by attaching materials such as feathers, tinsel, and colored thread to a fishhook.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(zoology) Any insect of the order Diptera; characterized by having two wings (except for some wingless species), also called true flies.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(non-technical) Especially, any of the insects of the family Muscidae, such as the common housefly (other families of Diptera include mosquitoes and midges).
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Any similar, but not closely related insect, such as a dragonfly or butterfly.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(weightlifting) A chest exercise performed by moving extended arms from the sides to in front of the chest. (also flye)
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(preceded by definite article) A simple dance in which the hands are shaken in the air, popular in the 1960s.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
An act of flying.
There was a good wind, so I decided to give the kite a fly.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(often plural) A strip of material (sometimes hiding zippers or buttons) at the front of a pair of trousers, pants, underpants, bootees, etc.
Ha-ha! Your flies are undone!
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(weightlifting) An exercise that involves wide opening and closing of the arms perpendicular to the shoulders.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(nautical) That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the compass card.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in the striking part of a clock.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(historical) A type of small, light, fast horse-drawn carriage that can be hired for transportation (sometimes pluralised flys).
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
In a knitting machine, the piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch..
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel or spinning frame, to twist the yarn.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
A vibrating frame with fingers, attached to a power printing press for doing the same work.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(intransitive) To travel through the air, another gas, or a vacuum, without being in contact with a grounded surface.
Birds of passage fly to warmer regions as it gets colder in winter.
The Concorde flew from Paris to New York faster than any other passenger airplane.
It takes about eleven hours to fly from Frankfurt to Hong Kong.
The little fairy flew home on the back of her friend, the giant eagle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To cause to fly travel or float in the air: to transport via air or the like.
Charles Lindbergh flew his airplane The Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic ocean.
Why don’t you go outside and fly kites, kids? The wind is just perfect.
Birds fly their prey to their nest to feed it to their young.
Each day the postal service flies thousands of letters around the globe.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(intransitive) To travel or proceed very fast; to hasten.
He flew down the hill on his bicycle.
It's five o'clock already. Doesn't time fly?
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(intransitive) To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly.
A door flies open
A bomb flies apart
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(intransitive) To proceed with great success.
His career is really flying at the moment.
One moment the company was flying high, the next it was on its knees.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To be accepted, come about or work out.
Let's see if that idea flies.
You know, I just don't think that's going to fly. Why don't you spend your time on something better?
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To be in the winged adult stage.
This species flies from late summer until frost.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To hit a fly ball; to hit a fly ball that is caught for an out. Compare ground (verb) and line (verb).
Jones flied to right in his last at-bat.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
(slang) Well dressed, smart in appearance; in style, cool.
He's pretty fly.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass or be driven rapidly through the air by any impulse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag.
Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate rapidly; as, a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around; rumor flies.
Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race.
The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an enemy or a coward flies. See Note under Flee.
Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
Whither shall I fly to escape their hands ?
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly; - usually with a qualifying word; as, a door flies open; a bomb flies apart.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To cause to fly or to float in the air, as a bird, a kite, a flag, etc.
The brave black flag I fly.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
To fly or flee from; to shun; to avoid.
Sleep flies the wretch.
To fly the favors of so good a king.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Any winged insect; esp., one with transparent wings; as, the Spanish fly; firefly; gall fly; dragon fly.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
A familiar spirit; a witch's attendant.
A trifling fly, none of your great familiars.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
A kind of light carriage for rapid transit, plying for hire and usually drawn by one horse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
The length of an extended flag from its staff; sometimes, the length from the "union" to the extreme end.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the compass card.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in the striking part of a clock.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fly
The piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fly
The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel or spinning frame, to twist the yarn.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fly
The outer canvas of a tent with double top, usually drawn over the ridgepole, but so extended as to touch the roof of the tent at no other place.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
The fore flap of a bootee; also, a lap on trousers, overcoats, etc., to conceal a row of buttons.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
A batted ball that flies to a considerable distance, usually high in the air; also, the flight of a ball so struck; as, it was caught on the fly. Also called fly ball.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Flap consisting of a piece of canvas that can be drawn back to provide entrance to a tent
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
An opening in a garment that is closed by a zipper or buttons concealed by a fold of cloth
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Fisherman's lure consisting of a fishhook decorated to look like an insect
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Transport by aeroplane;
We fly flowers from the Caribbean to North America
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Travel in an airplane;
She is flying to Cincinnati tonight
Are we driving or flying?
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Display in the air or cause to float;
Fly a kite
All nations fly their flags in front of the U.N.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Travel over (an area of land or sea) in an aircraft;
Lindbergh was the first to fly the Atlantic
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Oct 19, 2023
Fly
Decrease rapidly and disappear;
The money vanished in las Vegas
All my stock assets have vaporized
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can "flee" and "fly" be used interchangeably?
No, they have different meanings.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 23, 2023
What does it mean to "flee in terror"?
To run away quickly due to extreme fear.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 23, 2023
Is "flee" used in formal language?
Yes, it's used in both formal and informal contexts.
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Nov 23, 2023
Is "flee" always related to physical movement?
Mostly, but it can also be metaphorical.
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Nov 23, 2023
What does "fleeing the scene" mean?
Leaving the place where an incident occurred.
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Nov 23, 2023
Is "fly" used in various tenses?
Yes, it is used in present, past, and future tenses.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 23, 2023
Can "flee" be used in a positive context?
Rarely, it usually implies urgency and danger.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 23, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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