liftoff

noun

lift·​off ˈlift-ˌȯf How to pronounce liftoff (audio)
: a vertical takeoff by an aircraft or a rocket vehicle or missile

Examples of liftoff in a Sentence

a series of successful liftoffs Thousand of spectators gathered to watch the liftoff of the space shuttle.
Recent Examples on the Web In the first attempt, the North Korean rocket carrying the satellite crashed into the ocean soon after liftoff. Hyung-Jin Kim, TIME, 27 May 2024 As Cannes approaches its end, here are five takeaways from a festival that’s still struggling to achieve liftoff. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 21 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for liftoff 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'liftoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of liftoff was circa 1956

Dictionary Entries Near liftoff

Cite this Entry

“Liftoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liftoff. Accessed 31 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

liftoff

noun
lift·​off ˈlif-ˌtȯf How to pronounce liftoff (audio)
: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)

More from Merriam-Webster on liftoff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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