flying away

USAGE SUMMARY

"flying away" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe the action of something or someone leaving the ground and moving through the air. Example: The bird was flying away into the sunset. Alternative expressions include "taking off" and "soaring away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tomorrow morning, he was flying away.

The New Yorker

One bird was flying away.

The Washington Post

"Good night!" he shouts, flying away.

The New Yorker

But he will not be flying away anymore.

The New York Times

Instead, picture yourself as a bird flying away.

The New York Times - Style

I saw tufts of hair coming off the beasts, flying away in the wind.

The New Yorker

"I've heard enough about sex for now," the bee says, flying away.

The New Yorker

Sudden motion, even from a good distance, can spook birds into flying away.

The New York Times

illusion of the bird flying away with the baby was created.

The New Yorker

"You see thousands and thousands of ladybugs flying away and covering your hands.

The New York Times

Before he left, she dreamed he was trapped inside a tornado, spinning helplessly, flying away.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flying away" to vividly describe the motion of something departing quickly or gracefully, such as a bird escaping danger.

Common error

Avoid using "flying away" literally when you intend a more abstract meaning like 'disappearing' or 'fading'. Choose a more appropriate metaphor for non-literal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flying away" functions primarily as a verb phrase, typically acting as part of a predicate to describe the action of departing through the air. As Ludwig confirms, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

22%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "flying away" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the action of departing through flight. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile enough to appear in various contexts, though most frequently found in news and media. While primarily literal, it can also be used metaphorically to represent a quick escape or departure. When writing, be mindful to use it accurately to describe flight or an action that is closely related to it. Overall, this expression is well-supported and easily understandable across diverse sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking off

Focuses on the initiation of flight or departure.

soaring away

Emphasizes graceful and elevated flight.

winging its way

Suggests a journey or path through the air.

departing

A more general term for leaving.

fleeing

Implies escaping from a dangerous or undesirable situation.

vanishing

Focuses on the disappearance or loss of sight.

escaping

Highlights the act of breaking free from confinement or danger.

rising into the air

Describes the upward movement associated with flight.

taking to the skies

A more figurative and poetic way to describe starting to fly.

lifting off

Similar to taking off, but can also apply to non-flying objects.

FAQs

How can I use "flying away" in a sentence?

"Flying away" is used to describe the action of something moving through the air and departing. For example: "The bird was "flying away" into the sunset."

What's a good alternative to "flying away"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "taking off" or "soaring away".

Is it appropriate to use "flying away" in formal writing?

Yes, "flying away" is suitable for formal writing as long as the context aligns with its descriptive and literal meaning. Be sure that it is used correctly, to avoid confusion in a professional context.

Can "flying away" be used metaphorically?

While primarily literal, "flying away" can be used metaphorically to suggest a quick escape or departure from a situation, although it's more common to use other expressions such as "disappearing" or "vanishing".