: 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
The Saturday launch attempt scrubbed under a minute before liftoff because of bad weather in the booster recovery area.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
During this event, NASA fuels the rocket and runs through all the standard procedures that would take place on the day of liftoff, right up until the T-minus 29 second mark in the countdown, according to Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
The agency is also gearing up for the liftoff of Artemis 2, which will send four people on a 10-day mission around the moon.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Consistent effort is what gets you to the launch pad; careful timing is what brings liftoff.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
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Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
During this event, NASA fuels the rocket and runs through all the standard procedures that would take place on the day of liftoff, right up until the T-minus 29 second mark in the countdown, according to Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
The agency is also gearing up for the liftoff of Artemis 2, which will send four people on a 10-day mission around the moon.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Consistent effort is what gets you to the launch pad; careful timing is what brings liftoff.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
Cite this Entry
“Liftoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liftoff. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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liftoff
noun
lift·off
ˈlif-ˌtȯf 
: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)
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