on the fly

phrase

1
: in motion : busy
2
: while still in the air : without the ball bouncing
The home run carried 450 feet on the fly.
3
: in a hurry and often without preparation : hastily, spontaneously
making decisions on the fly
4
: simultaneously with another task
software that handles formatting on the fly

Examples of on the fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Schneider found himself in the fast lane, needing to figure out those driving skills on the fly. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026 Emma Rodriguez didn't catch Rogers' home run on the fly, but picked it up when a team employee pointed it out to her on the ground in the front row of the bleachers. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 But with a rookie head coach figuring it out on the fly, the floor may be much lower. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Speaking of lag—or, lack thereof—the Odyssey G51F also boasts AMD FreeSync, which syncs up your laptop or PC’s GPU and the monitor’s panel to match the refresh rates on the fly. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for on the fly

Rhymes for on the fly

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Browse Nearby Words

on the firing line
on the fly
on the fringe(s)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On the fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20fly. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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