flights
flights — verb
- flightspresent simple I / you / we / they
- flightses3rd person singular
- flightsing-ing form
- flightsedpast simple
1. in football (soccer), to deliberately strike the ball so it rises into the air,
in football (soccer), to deliberately strike the ball so it rises into the air, typically to reach a teammate or try to score
The midfielder flighted a perfect pass over the defender's head to the striker.
flight + pass + over [player] — direction pattern
The midfielder flighted the ball into the penalty area from a free kick near the sideline.
The goalkeeper watched helplessly as the winger flighted the ball just under the crossbar.
The captain flighted the corner kick directly onto the head of the tall centre-back.
flighted + corner kick — common collocation in football
With the last play of the match, the captain flighted a long ball toward the far post.
- flight the ball
- flight a pass
- flight a cross
- flight a free kick
Grammar Patterns
flight + ball + (direction)
Usage Note
Used almost exclusively in British football commentary and writing. The object is typically a kick, pass, cross, or ball. The direction or target often follows (over, into, toward, onto).
Common Mistakes
2. in cricket, to send the ball in a slow, looping arc so that it spins and changes
in cricket, to send the ball in a slow, looping arc so that it spins and changes direction when it lands
The spinner flighted the ball beautifully, and it turned sharply past the batsman's bat.
flight + ball + [adverb] — adverb describes the quality of the delivery
The bowler flighted a delivery just outside off stump, inviting the batsman to take a risk.
The spinner flighted the ball with a high arc, making it difficult for the batter to judge the length.
The captain told the bowler to flight the ball more slowly to trick the opposing batsman.
collocation: flight the ball more slowly / with a high arc
The crowd cheered when the young spinner flighted a perfect looping ball that took the wicket.
- flight the ball
- flight a delivery
- flight with a high arc
- toss up
informal term for a slow, high delivery; 'flight' is the standard technical term in cricket
Grammar Patterns
flight + ball
Usage Note
Describes a slow bowler's technique. The ball is deliberately given a high, slow trajectory so that its spin has maximum effect when it lands. Nearly always passive or past tense in match commentary.
Common Mistakes
3. of birds, to rise from the ground and fly together in a group, often in a coordi
of birds, to rise from the ground and fly together in a group, often in a coordinated or migratory pattern
At dawn, thousands of starlings flighted from the trees and filled the sky above the fields.
flight + from [place] + direction — typical intransitive pattern
The geese flighted south for the winter in a perfect V-shaped formation.
Every evening the swallows flight over the lake before settling in the reeds for the night.
The birds flighted together in a large flock before landing in the rice fields to feed.
collocation: flight together in a flock
As the storm approached, the seabirds flighted inland to find shelter from the wind.
- flight together
- flight from
- flight over
- flight inland
- flock
very similar but can also be used for people gathering; 'flight' emphasises the movement through the air
Grammar Patterns
flight + adverbial of direction
Usage Note
This is a specialized or literary intransitive verb. The subject must be a plural bird noun (flock, birds, geese, starlings, etc.). Not used for individual birds or for aircraft.
Common Mistakes
flights — noun
- flightssingular
- flightsesplural
1. a trip that you make by plane from one place to another, usually on a fixed sche
a trip that you make by plane from one place to another, usually on a fixed schedule
The flight from Taipei to Tokyo takes around three hours.
flight from [place] to [place]
Vinícius booked a direct flight to London for his summer holiday.
direct flight
All flights to Osaka have been cancelled because of the storm.
The passenger slept through most of the flight and woke up as the plane landed.
How many flights do you take each year for business trips?
take a flight
- direct flight
- connecting flight
- book a flight
- catch a flight
- flight to
- flight from
Usage Note
Countable noun: you can count individual journeys (one flight, two flights). Frequently used with 'from', 'to', 'direct', 'connecting', and 'book'.
Common Mistakes
2. a particular aircraft that is traveling on a scheduled trip, usually identified
a particular aircraft that is traveling on a scheduled trip, usually identified by its number
Flight 207 from Bangkok has just arrived at Gate 12.
flight + [number]
The passengers on flight BR87 waited two hours on the runway.
Walid noticed that flight 306 was delayed due to engine problems.
flight + number + delayed
The airline confirmed that flight 405 would depart in ten minutes.
Ava met her old friend on flight 888 from Seoul to San Francisco.
- flight number
- on flight
- departure of flight
- arrival of flight
Usage Note
Almost always used with a number identifying the route. The definite article 'the' or no article is common: 'Flight 207' (no article) or 'the flight from Chicago' (with article).
Common Mistakes
3. the action of moving through air, especially by using wings or being carried by
the action of moving through air, especially by using wings or being carried by the wind
The children watched the flight of the paper airplane across the room.
flight of [something]
Kwame studied the flight of migrating birds for his science project.
A butterfly's flight is slow and gentle compared to a bird's.
The eagle's flight above the mountain was a beautiful sight for the hikers.
During the flight of the ball, the goalkeeper judged its direction and caught it.
flight of the ball
- in flight
- flight path
- flight of
Usage Note
Can be used as both countable ('a short flight') and uncountable ('the science of flight'). The uncountable form refers to the general ability or concept of flying.
Common Mistakes
4. several birds or planes that fly as a single unit in the sky
several birds or planes that fly as a single unit in the sky
A flight of geese passed overhead, heading south for the winter.
flight of [birds/aircraft]
The air show began with a flight of five fighter jets flying in formation.
Minho spotted a flight of swans landing on the lake near his house.
A flight of small birds rose from the trees and scattered across the sky.
The photographer captured a flight of pelicans gliding over the ocean waves.
- flight of
- a flight of geese
- a flight of aircraft
Usage Note
Used as a collective noun, similar to 'flock'. 'Flight' often suggests birds or aircraft moving in a coordinated way, while 'flock' is more general for any group of birds.
5. in cricket, the curved path a ball takes as it travels through the air after a s
in cricket, the curved path a ball takes as it travels through the air after a slow bowler releases it toward the batter
The slow bowler put a lot of flight on the ball to trick the batsman.
put flight on the ball
Imran admired the flight of the spin bowler's delivery as it curved toward the stumps.
Good flight from the bowler can confuse the batsman and lead to a mistake.
The cricket coach taught the young players how to control the flight of the ball.
control the flight of the ball
Mayumi watched the flight curve and dip just before the batsman swung.
- put flight on
- flight of the ball
- control the flight
Usage Note
This sense is specific to cricket and is used mainly by players and fans of the sport. It describes deliberate movement created by the bowler, not natural wind movement.
6. an act of escaping, running away from danger, or avoiding a difficult situation
an act of escaping, running away from danger, or avoiding a difficult situation
The deer took flight when it heard the hunter's footsteps in the forest.
take flight
The thieves were put to flight by the sudden arrival of the police.
put to flight
Megan's flight from the burning building was captured on camera by a neighbor.
The soldiers forced the enemy army into a hasty flight across the river.
Marco saw the cat take flight up a tree when the dog ran toward it.
- take flight
- put to flight
- in flight
- hasty flight
Usage Note
Common in fixed phrases: 'take flight' (run away), 'put to flight' (make someone run away). The uncountable use ('in flight' meaning 'while escaping') is less common than the countable use.
Common Mistakes
7. a situation in which someone is defeated and forced to run away, most commonly u
a situation in which someone is defeated and forced to run away, most commonly used in the phrase 'put to flight'
The rebel army was put to flight by a much smaller government force.
put to flight — forced to flee
The sudden appearance of the wolves put the deer to flight in all directions.
A clever strategy put the enemy soldiers to flight within just a few hours.
passive: be put to flight
The general's surprise attack put the rebel forces to flight within just a few hours.
put + noun + to flight — to defeat and force to flee
- put to flight
- take flight
- force into flight
Grammar Patterns
put + noun + to flight
Usage Note
Frequently used in the fixed expression 'put to flight'. The related phrase 'take flight' is more general and means 'to run away'.
Common Mistakes
8. an occasion when a bird or aircraft leaves the ground and begins to move through
an occasion when a bird or aircraft leaves the ground and begins to move through the air
The eagle's flight from the cliff was graceful and powerful.
possessive: bird's flight from [place]
Visitors watched the flight of the hot-air balloon as it rose above the trees.
The flight of the small plane was delayed by strong winds near the runway.
A sudden noise startled the birds into flight from their hiding place in the bushes.
collocation: startle into flight
- flight from
- into flight
- take flight
Grammar Patterns
flight of + noun
noun + 's + flight
Usage Note
This sense describes the action of taking off, not a scheduled journey by plane (see sense 1).
9. the act of leaving a particular place or territory, especially in difficult circ
the act of leaving a particular place or territory, especially in difficult circumstances
The sudden flight of workers from the factory caused production to stop completely.
flight of [people] from [place]
A flight of refugees crossed the river at dawn to reach safety at the border.
The family planned their flight from the capital city weeks before the conflict began.
flight from [place]
The king's flight from the castle marked the end of his rule over the kingdom.
- flight from
- flight of
- hasty flight
Grammar Patterns
flight + from + place
flight + of + people
Usage Note
Different from 'escape' (sense 6) — this sense specifically describes physically leaving a place or territory, not the general act of escaping danger.
10. a connected series of steps linking one floor of a building to the floor above o
a connected series of steps linking one floor of a building to the floor above or below
Manuela climbed two flights of stairs to reach her apartment on the third floor.
a flight of stairs — one set between floors
The old house had a narrow flight of stone steps down to the basement kitchen.
flight of stone steps
Theo slipped on the top step and tumbled down an entire flight of stairs.
A short flight of wooden stairs connects the back door to the garden below.
- flight of stairs
- flight of steps
- climb a flight
- go up a flight
Grammar Patterns
a flight of stairs
flight of steps
Usage Note
A 'flight' refers to one continuous set of stairs between two levels. A building with many floors has multiple flights of stairs.
Common Mistakes
11. a small selection of different wines, beers, or other alcoholic drinks that are
a small selection of different wines, beers, or other alcoholic drinks that are served together so that people can taste and compare them
The waiter brought a flight of four red wines for the couple to compare.
a flight of [number] [drinks]
The brewery offers a flight of six different beers for customers to sample before buying.
Selim ordered a whiskey flight featuring bottles from three different countries.
flight — a set of small servings of different drinks
During the tour, each visitor receives a flight of local wines to taste.
- flight of wine
- flight of beer
- whiskey flight
- beer flight
- wine flight
- sampler
more general; can include food items, not just drinks
- tasting set
more descriptive, less idiomatic
Grammar Patterns
a flight of + drinks
flight + noun
Usage Note
Each drink in a flight is usually a small sample portion, not a full serving. Common at breweries, wineries, and whisky bars.
Common Mistakes
12. the distance or path that something travels while moving through the air, from t
the distance or path that something travels while moving through the air, from the point it is thrown or launched to where it lands or stops
The flight of the arrow ended in the centre of the circular target.
the flight of [projectile]
The engineer tracked the flight of the drone using a special computer programme.
A group of children watched the flight of paper planes across the school playground.
The flight of the baseball carried it over the garden wall for a home run.
the flight of [ball] — path through air
- flight of
- track the flight of
- the flight of an arrow
- the flight of a ball
- trajectory
more technical; commonly used in physics or sport analysis
- path
broader; can describe movement on the ground or through water too
Grammar Patterns
the flight of + object
object + 's + flight
Usage Note
This sense focuses on the trajectory of an object through the air. It can refer to anything thrown, launched, or fired, not just aircraft.
13. A series of imaginative thoughts or ideas that go beyond what is normal, realist
A series of imaginative thoughts or ideas that go beyond what is normal, realistic, or practical — typically used in fixed expressions such as 'a flight of fancy', 'a flight of imagination', or 'a flight of fantasy'. The phrase suggests a brief, playful, or creative mental escape from everyday thinking.
The author's description of a city made entirely of clouds was a delightful flight of fancy that captivated young readers.
a flight of fancy — an imaginative but unrealistic idea
In her poem, a flight of imagination carries the speaker from a market to a quiet beach at sunrise.
a flight of imagination — creative thinking that goes beyond normal limits
The architect's floating garden plan was dismissed as a flight of fancy, though some colleagues found it inspiring.
During the long bus ride, the young child entertained herself with flights of fancy about talking animals and hidden treasure.
plural form 'flights of fancy' — repeated daydreams or playful ideas
The politician's promise to cut all taxes while increasing spending was described by critics as a wild flight of fantasy.
- a flight of fancy
- a flight of imagination
- a flight of fantasy
- a wild flight
- a poetic flight
- flights of fancy
- fantasy
A general term for imaginative scenarios; 'flight of fancy' emphasises the sudden or playful nature rather than a sustained imagined world.
- daydream
More casual and everyday; 'flight of fancy' feels more literary and conscious.
- reverie
Suggests a pleasant, dreamy state of thought; a 'flight of fancy' can be more active and creative.
- whimsy
Focuses on the playful, light-hearted quality; 'flight of fancy' is broader and can include serious imaginative leaps.
- reality
The opposite of stepping beyond ordinary bounds into imagination.
- practicality
A 'flight of fancy' is by definition not practical or realistic.
Grammar Patterns
a flight of [fancy / imagination / fantasy]
Usage Note
Almost always appears inside the fixed expressions 'a flight of fancy', 'a flight of imagination', or 'a flight of fantasy'. Unlike other noun senses of 'flight', this sense never refers to a literal journey through the air. The plural 'flights of fancy' is occasionally used for repeated or habitual daydreaming.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Etymology
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb