Standard Lemma guide

overfly

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: OW2 V ER0 F L AY1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To fly over something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • My family planned to take pictures from the ground as I overflew them in the hot air balloon.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To fly too far past something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The small size of the airstrip meant that pilots would frequently overfly and have to circle back.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

fly over

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The plane passed over Damascus

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pass over

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: travel, go, move, locomote

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Germanic *uber Old English ofer- Middle English over- English over- Proto-Indo-European *plew- Proto-Indo-European *plewk- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *pléwketi Proto-Germanic *fleuganą Proto-West Germanic *fleugan Old English flēogan Middle English fliender. English fly English overfly From over- + fly.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: survoler — fly over something
  • German: überfliegen — fly over something
  • Italian: sorvolare — fly over something
  • Portuguese: sobrevoar — fly over something
  • Spanish: sobrevolar — fly over something