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absence

Flag: gbEnglishMerriam-Webster Dictionary
  • a sheet of material (such as canvas) that is attachable to a tent for use as a double top or as a rooflike extension
  • a football pass pattern in which the receiver runs straight downfield
    • on ​the ​fly
      • in motion busy
      • while still in the air without the ball bouncing //The home run carried 450 feet on the fly.
      • in a hurry and often without preparation hastily, spontaneously //making decisions on the fly
      • simultaneously with another task //software that handles formatting on the fly
    verb (2)
    flied; fly​ing

    Definition (Entry 3 of 5)

    noun (2)
    plural flies

    Definition (Entry 4 of 5)

    • a winged insect —usually used in combination //mayflies //butterfly
    • any of a large order (Diptera) of winged or rarely wingless insects (such as the housefly, mosquito, or gnat) that have the anterior wings functional, the posterior wings reduced to halteres, and segmented often headless, eyeless, and legless larvae
      — compare maggot
      a large stout-bodied fly
    • a fishhook dressed (as with feathers or tinsel) to suggest an insect
    • fly ​in ​the ​ointment
      a detracting factor or element
    adjective
    fly​er; fly​est

    Definition (Entry 5 of 5)

    • chiefly African American English impressively good, attractive, or stylish //The singer was spotted out and about … looking fly as ever in an all-black hooded outfit. — Natalie Michie //… the Destiny's Child alum knew she was looking flyer than ever, stopping to pose for a few extra flirty photo opportunities as she arrived. — McKenna Aiello //Mary J. [Blige] had a tough job following up on one of the flyest debut albums in the hip-hop nation. Instead of trying to outdo herself, she took her music to the next level … — Gerald Dee
    • chiefly British keen, artful //But Shakespeare never really fell foul of the secret police. He was too fly for that. — Boris Johnson
    Synonyms & Antonyms
    Synonyms: Verb (1)
    aviate glide plane soar wing
    Examples
    Verb (1)
    • //the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
    • //you must fly to safety immediately
    • //flew down the concourse to catch his flight
    • //no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
    • //the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
    • //the familiar “Because I said so!” is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
    First Known Use
    Verb (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
    Noun (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Verb (2)
    1893, in the meaning defined above
    Noun (2)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Adjective
    1664, in the meaning defined at sense 2
    History and Etymology
    Verb (1) and Noun (1)
    Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan; akin to Old High German fliogan to fly and probably to Old English flōwan to flow
    Noun (2)
    Middle English flie, from Old English flēoge; akin to Old High German flioga fly, Old English flēogan to fly
    Adjective
    probably from fly entry 1
    fly
    verb

    Synonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

    • on ​the ​fly
      • in motion busy
      • while still in the air without the ball bouncing //The home run carried 450 feet on the fly.
      • in a hurry and often without preparation hastily, spontaneously //making decisions on the fly
      • simultaneously with another task //software that handles formatting on the fly
    verb (2)
    flied; fly​ing

    Definition (Entry 3 of 5)

    noun (2)
    plural flies

    Definition (Entry 4 of 5)

    • a winged insect —usually used in combination //mayflies //butterfly
    • any of a large order (Diptera) of winged or rarely wingless insects (such as the housefly, mosquito, or gnat) that have the anterior wings functional, the posterior wings reduced to halteres, and segmented often headless, eyeless, and legless larvae
      — compare maggot
      a large stout-bodied fly
    • a fishhook dressed (as with feathers or tinsel) to suggest an insect
    • fly ​in ​the ​ointment
      a detracting factor or element
    adjective
    fly​er; fly​est

    Definition (Entry 5 of 5)

    • chiefly African American English impressively good, attractive, or stylish //The singer was spotted out and about … looking fly as ever in an all-black hooded outfit. — Natalie Michie //… the Destiny's Child alum knew she was looking flyer than ever, stopping to pose for a few extra flirty photo opportunities as she arrived. — McKenna Aiello //Mary J. [Blige] had a tough job following up on one of the flyest debut albums in the hip-hop nation. Instead of trying to outdo herself, she took her music to the next level … — Gerald Dee
    • chiefly British keen, artful //But Shakespeare never really fell foul of the secret police. He was too fly for that. — Boris Johnson
    Synonyms & Antonyms
    Synonyms: Verb (1)
    aviate glide plane soar wing
    Examples
    Verb (1)
    • //the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
    • //you must fly to safety immediately
    • //flew down the concourse to catch his flight
    • //no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
    • //the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
    • //the familiar “Because I said so!” is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
    First Known Use
    Verb (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
    Noun (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Verb (2)
    1893, in the meaning defined above
    Noun (2)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Adjective
    1664, in the meaning defined at sense 2
    History and Etymology
    Verb (1) and Noun (1)
    Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan; akin to Old High German fliogan to fly and probably to Old English flōwan to flow
    Noun (2)
    Middle English flie, from Old English flēoge; akin to Old High German flioga fly, Old English flēogan to fly
    Adjective
    probably from fly entry 1
    fly
    verb

    Synonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

    • on ​the ​fly
      • in motion busy
      • while still in the air without the ball bouncing //The home run carried 450 feet on the fly.
      • in a hurry and often without preparation hastily, spontaneously //making decisions on the fly
      • simultaneously with another task //software that handles formatting on the fly
    verb (2)
    flied; fly​ing

    Definition (Entry 3 of 5)

    noun (2)
    plural flies

    Definition (Entry 4 of 5)

    • a winged insect —usually used in combination //mayflies //butterfly
    • any of a large order (Diptera) of winged or rarely wingless insects (such as the housefly, mosquito, or gnat) that have the anterior wings functional, the posterior wings reduced to halteres, and segmented often headless, eyeless, and legless larvae
      — compare maggot
      a large stout-bodied fly
    • a fishhook dressed (as with feathers or tinsel) to suggest an insect
    • fly ​in ​the ​ointment
      a detracting factor or element
    adjective
    fly​er; fly​est

    Definition (Entry 5 of 5)

    • chiefly African American English impressively good, attractive, or stylish //The singer was spotted out and about … looking fly as ever in an all-black hooded outfit. — Natalie Michie //… the Destiny's Child alum knew she was looking flyer than ever, stopping to pose for a few extra flirty photo opportunities as she arrived. — McKenna Aiello //Mary J. [Blige] had a tough job following up on one of the flyest debut albums in the hip-hop nation. Instead of trying to outdo herself, she took her music to the next level … — Gerald Dee
    • chiefly British keen, artful //But Shakespeare never really fell foul of the secret police. He was too fly for that. — Boris Johnson
    Synonyms & Antonyms
    Synonyms: Verb (1)
    aviate glide plane soar wing
    Examples
    Verb (1)
    • //the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
    • //you must fly to safety immediately
    • //flew down the concourse to catch his flight
    • //no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
    • //the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
    • //the familiar “Because I said so!” is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
    First Known Use
    Verb (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
    Noun (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Verb (2)
    1893, in the meaning defined above
    Noun (2)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Adjective
    1664, in the meaning defined at sense 2
    History and Etymology
    Verb (1) and Noun (1)
    Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan; akin to Old High German fliogan to fly and probably to Old English flōwan to flow
    Noun (2)
    Middle English flie, from Old English flēoge; akin to Old High German flioga fly, Old English flēogan to fly
    Adjective
    probably from fly entry 1
    fly
    verb

    Synonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

    • on ​the ​fly
      • in motion busy
      • while still in the air without the ball bouncing //The home run carried 450 feet on the fly.
      • in a hurry and often without preparation hastily, spontaneously //making decisions on the fly
      • simultaneously with another task //software that handles formatting on the fly
    verb (2)
    flied; fly​ing

    Definition (Entry 3 of 5)

    noun (2)
    plural flies

    Definition (Entry 4 of 5)

    • a winged insect —usually used in combination //mayflies //butterfly
    • any of a large order (Diptera) of winged or rarely wingless insects (such as the housefly, mosquito, or gnat) that have the anterior wings functional, the posterior wings reduced to halteres, and segmented often headless, eyeless, and legless larvae
      — compare maggot
      a large stout-bodied fly
    • a fishhook dressed (as with feathers or tinsel) to suggest an insect
    • fly ​in ​the ​ointment
      a detracting factor or element
    adjective
    fly​er; fly​est

    Definition (Entry 5 of 5)

    • chiefly African American English impressively good, attractive, or stylish //The singer was spotted out and about … looking fly as ever in an all-black hooded outfit. — Natalie Michie //… the Destiny's Child alum knew she was looking flyer than ever, stopping to pose for a few extra flirty photo opportunities as she arrived. — McKenna Aiello //Mary J. [Blige] had a tough job following up on one of the flyest debut albums in the hip-hop nation. Instead of trying to outdo herself, she took her music to the next level … — Gerald Dee
    • chiefly British keen, artful //But Shakespeare never really fell foul of the secret police. He was too fly for that. — Boris Johnson
    Synonyms & Antonyms
    Synonyms: Verb (1)
    aviate glide plane soar wing
    Examples
    Verb (1)
    • //the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
    • //you must fly to safety immediately
    • //flew down the concourse to catch his flight
    • //no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
    • //the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
    • //the familiar “Because I said so!” is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
    First Known Use
    Verb (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
    Noun (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Verb (2)
    1893, in the meaning defined above
    Noun (2)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Adjective
    1664, in the meaning defined at sense 2
    History and Etymology
    Verb (1) and Noun (1)
    Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan; akin to Old High German fliogan to fly and probably to Old English flōwan to flow
    Noun (2)
    Middle English flie, from Old English flēoge; akin to Old High German flioga fly, Old English flēogan to fly
    Adjective
    probably from fly entry 1
    fly
    verb

    Synonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

    • on ​the ​fly
      • in motion busy
      • while still in the air without the ball bouncing //The home run carried 450 feet on the fly.
      • in a hurry and often without preparation hastily, spontaneously //making decisions on the fly
      • simultaneously with another task //software that handles formatting on the fly
    verb (2)
    flied; fly​ing

    Definition (Entry 3 of 5)

    noun (2)
    plural flies

    Definition (Entry 4 of 5)

    • a winged insect —usually used in combination //mayflies //butterfly
    • any of a large order (Diptera) of winged or rarely wingless insects (such as the housefly, mosquito, or gnat) that have the anterior wings functional, the posterior wings reduced to halteres, and segmented often headless, eyeless, and legless larvae
      — compare maggot
      a large stout-bodied fly
    • a fishhook dressed (as with feathers or tinsel) to suggest an insect
    • fly ​in ​the ​ointment
      a detracting factor or element
    adjective
    fly​er; fly​est

    Definition (Entry 5 of 5)

    • chiefly African American English impressively good, attractive, or stylish //The singer was spotted out and about … looking fly as ever in an all-black hooded outfit. — Natalie Michie //… the Destiny's Child alum knew she was looking flyer than ever, stopping to pose for a few extra flirty photo opportunities as she arrived. — McKenna Aiello //Mary J. [Blige] had a tough job following up on one of the flyest debut albums in the hip-hop nation. Instead of trying to outdo herself, she took her music to the next level … — Gerald Dee
    • chiefly British keen, artful //But Shakespeare never really fell foul of the secret police. He was too fly for that. — Boris Johnson
    Synonyms & Antonyms
    Synonyms: Verb (1)
    aviate glide plane soar wing
    Examples
    Verb (1)
    • //the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
    • //you must fly to safety immediately
    • //flew down the concourse to catch his flight
    • //no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
    • //the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
    • //the familiar “Because I said so!” is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
    First Known Use
    Verb (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
    Noun (1)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Verb (2)
    1893, in the meaning defined above
    Noun (2)
    before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Adjective
    1664, in the meaning defined at sense 2
    History and Etymology
    Verb (1) and Noun (1)
    Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan; akin to Old High German fliogan to fly and probably to Old English flōwan to flow
    Noun (2)
    Middle English flie, from Old English flēoge; akin to Old High German flioga fly, Old English flēogan to fly
    Adjective
    probably from fly entry 1
    fly
    verb

    Synonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

    absence — MW · Shobdo