overfly

[ oh-ver-flahy ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·flew, o·ver·flown, o·ver·fly·ing.

1. to fly over (a specified area, territory, country, etc.):

   The plane lost its way and overflew foreign territory.

2. to fly farther than or beyond; overshoot.
3. to fly over or past instead of making a scheduled stop:

   to overfly Philadelphia because of bad weather.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·flew, o·ver·flown, o·ver·fly·ing.

1. to fly over a particular territory, country, etc.:

   The plane approached the border but never overflew.

overfly

/ ˌəʊvəˈflaɪ /

verb

1. tr to fly over (a territory) or past (a point)

Word History and Origins

Origin of overfly¹

First recorded in 1550–60; over- + fly ²

Example Sentences

By launching these weapons from long range and far from Iran’s borders it would avoid the need for Israeli warplanes to overfly certain countries in the region like Jordan.

From BBC

Saturday’s drone and missile launches by Iran targeting Israel, including some that overflew Iraqi airspace and others that were launched from Iraq by Iran-backed groups, have underscored the delicate relationship between Washington and Baghdad.

From Seattle Times

A patrol aircraft overflew the vessel early Friday and established contact with the crew and ascertained that they were safe, the navy said.

From Seattle Times

Risch intends to “reroute aircraft taking off/landing from Boise Airport so that they would overfly neighborhoods in Meridian instead of flying over his property near the airport,” Coose wrote from his personal email account.

From Seattle Times

In February, the U.S. canceled a visit by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Beijing amid a furor over a Chinese spy balloon that overflew the U.S.

From Seattle Times