Flight
/flaɪt/
Definitions
5 meaningsThe act or instance of flying in the air.
/flaɪt/
The act of flying or moving through the air.
The Wright brothers made the first successful flight.
💡 Simply: Imagine a bird spreading its wings and zooming up into the sky. Flight is when something moves through the air, like a plane or a bird! Remember when you throw a paper airplane?
👶 For kids: When something goes up in the air like a bird or an airplane.
More Examples
The flight of the butterfly was a beautiful sight.
The flight from New York to London takes about seven hours.
How It's Used
"The plane took off on its scheduled flight to Paris."
"The birds took flight as the predator approached."
A journey made by an aircraft.
/flaɪt/
A scheduled journey by aircraft.
Our flight is scheduled to depart at 3:00 PM.
💡 Simply: When you get on a plane, the journey to your destination is called a flight. It's like a bus, but in the sky!
👶 For kids: When you get on a plane to go somewhere.
More Examples
The flight attendant served us drinks and snacks.
We had a long flight, but we finally arrived safely.
How It's Used
"We booked our flight to Hawaii months in advance."
"The flight was delayed due to bad weather."
A number of aircraft or birds flying together, especially as a unit.
/flaɪt/
A group of birds or aircraft flying together.
A flight of swallows dipped and soared over the fields.
💡 Simply: When several birds or planes travel together, they're called a flight. It's like a team moving together in the air!
👶 For kids: A group of birds or airplanes flying together.
More Examples
The squadron was divided into several flights.
The military used a flight of helicopters to survey the area.
How It's Used
"A flight of geese flew overhead."
"The flight of fighter jets was a display of power."
A rapid departure, especially to avoid danger or capture.
/flaɪt/
A rapid departure or escape.
The thief made his flight after the alarm sounded.
💡 Simply: When you run away from something scary or dangerous, that's a flight! Think of when you're afraid of something
👶 For kids: Running away from something scary.
More Examples
In a flight of panic, she ran from the burning building.
The refugees were forced to make a desperate flight from their war-torn homeland.
How It's Used
"The villagers took flight to escape the invading army."
"He made a hasty flight from the scene of the crime."
A series of steps.
/flaɪt/
A set of stairs.
The mansion featured a grand flight of stairs.
💡 Simply: If you need to go up or down more than one step, you're using a 'flight'. It's a staircase!
👶 For kids: A set of stairs.
More Examples
The fire escape had several flights of stairs.
She tripped and fell down a flight of stairs.
How It's Used
"She climbed the flight of stairs to reach the second floor."
"The building has two flights of stairs."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
flight attendant
A person whose job is to serve and take care of passengers on a plane.
"The flight attendant served us drinks."
flight of fancy
An unrealistic idea or plan.
"The architect's proposal was dismissed as a flight of fancy."
take flight
To start flying or to take off. Also figuratively, to suddenly become successful or popular, or to run away.
"The birds took flight from the tree."
From Middle English flighte, flyghte, from Old English flyht (“flight, flying, act of flying”), from Proto-Germanic *fluhtiz (“flight”), from Proto-Indo-European *plew- (“to flow, fly”). Cognate with Dutch vlucht, German Flucht, and Swedish flykt.
The word 'flight' has been used in English since the Old English period, evolving from its early sense of 'flying' to include various other meanings.
Memory tip
Think of a bird soaring gracefully through the air; that's flight!