flew in

USAGE SUMMARY

"flew in" is a correct phrase to use in written English.
It is usually used to indicate movement towards a location (placing emphasis on the movement). Example: The birds flew in from the south.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My brothers flew in.

The New York Times - Magazine

It flew in.

Independent

Family flew in, too.

The New York Times

Media requests flew in.

The Guardian - Opinion

The first one flew in 1997.

The New York Times

They all flew in for one night.

The New York Times - Arts

Just then the bird flew in.

The New Yorker

Spittle flew in droplets.

The New Yorker

I flew in helicopters.

The Guardian - Opinion

It flew in 1964.

The New York Times - Science

The tackles flew in.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flew in" to emphasize the mode of transportation, specifically air travel, when someone or something arrives at a location. For example: "The specialist flew in to consult on the complex case."

Common error

Avoid using "flew in" when referring to future events. Instead, use "will fly in" or "is flying in" to indicate future travel plans. For example, instead of "He flew in tomorrow", say "He is flying in tomorrow".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flew in" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of arriving by air. It is used to convey how someone or something reached a particular location, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples which show contexts ranging from family members arriving to specialists being called in.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flew in" is a versatile and commonly used phrase that efficiently conveys the act of arriving by air. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and suitable for a wide range of contexts, from news reports to casual conversations. When using it, be sure to maintain consistency in tense and choose more formal alternatives such as "arrived by air" for professional communications. By avoiding common errors and understanding its communicative purpose, you can effectively incorporate "flew in" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Arrived by plane

Specifies the mode of transportation as a plane, which is implied but not stated directly in "flew in".

Came by airplane

Simple and direct way to say someone arrived via airplane.

Travelled by air

Indicates air travel as the means of arrival, broadening the scope to include various aircraft.

Jet in

Implies swift travel, often for a short visit.

Airlifted in

Suggests a scenario where transportation was done for emergency purposes or logistics.

Hopped on a flight

Highlights the act of taking a flight, focusing on the casual nature of the travel.

Arrived swiftly

Emphasizes the speed of arrival, removing the mode of transportation.

Breezed in

Indicates an effortless and quick arrival, usually in a cheerful manner.

Appeared suddenly

Focuses on the unexpected arrival rather than the means of transportation.

Entered rapidly

Describes quick entry, removing the element of air travel.

FAQs

How can I use "flew in" in a sentence?

You can use "flew in" to describe someone arriving by plane, as in "My family "arrived by plane" from abroad for the holidays".

What's a more formal way to say "flew in"?

While "flew in" is acceptable in most contexts, you might use "arrived by air" or "travelled by air" in formal settings. For example, "The delegates "travelled by air" for the conference".

Is it correct to say "flown in" instead of "flew in"?

The correct phrase is "flew in", which is the simple past tense. "Flown in" is the past participle and requires a helping verb, such as "has flown in". You might say "The package "has flown in" from overseas".

What can I say instead of "flew in" to describe an emergency arrival?

For emergency situations, you could use "airlifted in". For example, "The injured were "airlifted in" for immediate medical attention".