Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):
   • To move past quickly, especially through the air: To travel past a point or observer at high speed, often implying a brief or fleeting passage.
   • To pass by while flying: To move past a location in an aircraft or while airborne.

Usage

• The verb "fly by" describes the action of something moving swiftly past a reference point. It often conveys a sense of speed and brevity. It is commonly used in both literal (aviation, space) and figurative (time, events) contexts to indicate rapid passage.

Examples

• Literal (Aviation/Space):
  • We watched from the hill as a flock of geese flew by.
  • The International Space Station will fly by overhead tonight at 8 PM.
• Figurative (Time/Events):
  • The years just seem to fly by as you get older.
  • The deadline flew by before I could finish the project.

Advanced Usage

• "to make time fly by": to cause time to seem to pass quickly.
  • A good book can really make time fly by.
• Used in the context of a "flyby," a noun denoting a flight past a point, especially a close approach by a spacecraft for observation.
  • The spacecraft performed a flyby of Jupiter to collect data.

Variants and Related Words

• Flyby (n): A flight past a particular point, especially by an aircraft or spacecraft.
• Flypast (n, chiefly British): A ceremonial flight of aircraft past a person or a place.

Synonyms

• Zoom by: To move past very quickly, often with a buzzing or humming sound.
• Whiz by: To move past at a very high speed.
• Speed past: To move past rapidly.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Fly past: Very similar in meaning to "fly by," often used interchangeably, especially in British English.
  • The royal jets flew past the parade grounds.
• Swoop by: To move downward rapidly past a point.
  • The eagle swooped by to catch its prey.

Related Idioms

• Time flies (when you're having fun): An idiom stating that time seems to pass quickly during enjoyable activities. This is related to the figurative use of "fly by."
  • I can't believe it's midnight already! Time flies!

Verb

1. move by very quickly
2. pass by while flying
   • An enemy plane flew by