Synonyms for

Flies

Verb / flaɪz / Another word for flies — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Flies is the plural form of fly, which means a small insect with two wings.

Synonyms & similar words

fell pilot takeflight flysheet tentfly vaporize flyfront aviate tentflap fly rainfly flyball wing flee vanish insects gnats mosquitoes pests bugs critters vermin invertebrates arthropods beetles moths midges blowflies

Synonyms by register

Formal

ascends soars mounts

Informal

zips darts buzzes

Literary

wings soars takes flight

Antonyms

crawls walks stands stays lands settles

Common collocations

  • flies away
  • flies off
  • flies through
  • flies high
  • flies fast
  • flies like
  • flies over

Word family

noun flight
verb fly
adjective flying

Usage note

The word 'flies' is the third-person singular present tense of the verb 'to fly'. It can also refer to the insect, which is a common homograph.

Example sentences

  1. I saw a lot of flies at the picnic.
  2. The plane flies in the sky.
  3. The frog catches the flies with its tongue.
  4. The spider spins a web to catch the flies.
  5. The flies are attracted to the garbage.

Quotes

  • Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.
  • The fly that doesn't want to be swatted is most secure when it lights on the flyswatter.
  • A fly may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.

Try these popular words

the and that for you with was this are have not from

Practice

Play the Word Synonyms game · Choose level (start near 1)

Worksheets

Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6

Topics

Guides

Explore more words