fledge

verb

ˈflej 

fledged; fledging

intransitive verb

of a young bird : to acquire the feathers necessary for flight or independent activity

also : to leave the nest after acquiring such feathers

transitive verb

1

: to rear until ready for flight or independent activity

2

: to cover with or as if with feathers or down

3

: to furnish (something) with feathers

fledge an arrow

Examples of fledge in a Sentence

The young birds haven't yet fledged.

Recent Examples on the Web

The male peregrine falcon, a new mate for the female, has been identified by the Midwest Peregrine Society as a banded 4-year-old that fledged from Minneapolis City Hall in 2022. —Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026

The birds will grow up fast and fledge the nest about 40 days after hatching. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026

The young birds are expected to remain there for about 10 to 14 weeks before fledging as their older siblings, Sunny and Gizmo, did in 2025. —Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026

And it was made by a fledging firm called Pan American Airways. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

fledge capable of flying, from Middle English flegge, from Old English -flycge; akin to Old High German flucki capable of flying, Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for fledge

• dredge
• edge
• hedge
• ledge
• pledge
• sedge
• sledge
• wedge
• allege
• straightedge

Kids Definition

fledge

verb

ˈflej 

fledged; fledging

1

: to develop the feathers necessary for flying

also : to leave the nest after developing such feathers

2

: to provide with feathers

fledge an arrow