: 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
How to watch SpaceX Starlink launch livestream As with most SpaceX missions, the launch will be available to stream on the company's website and its new X TV mobile app, beginning about five minutes before liftoff.
—
Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Super Heavy alone is powered by 33 of SpaceX’s Raptor engines that give the initial burst of thrust at liftoff.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
And in recent days, SpaceX has begun accepting reservations for Mars flights via its website, but without providing fares for round-trips between the planets, or guarantees on the timing of the first liftoff.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The world's most powerful rocket aced a critical test launch this week, and the images from liftoff are stunning.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Super Heavy alone is powered by 33 of SpaceX’s Raptor engines that give the initial burst of thrust at liftoff.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
And in recent days, SpaceX has begun accepting reservations for Mars flights via its website, but without providing fares for round-trips between the planets, or guarantees on the timing of the first liftoff.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The world's most powerful rocket aced a critical test launch this week, and the images from liftoff are stunning.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
Cite this Entry
“Liftoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liftoff. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
liftoff
noun
lift·off
ˈlif-ˌtȯf 
: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share