takeoff

1 of 2

noun

take·​off ˈtāk-ˌȯf 

1

a

: a rise or leap from a surface in making a jump or flight or an ascent in an aircraft or in the launching of a rocket

b

: an action of starting out

c

: a rapid rise in activity, growth, or popularity

an economic takeoff

2

: an imitation especially in the way of caricature

3

a

: a spot at which one takes off

b

: a starting point : point of departure

4

: an action of removing something

5

: a mechanism for transmission of the power of an engine or vehicle to operate some other mechanism

take off

2 of 2

verb

took off; taken off; taking off; takes off

transitive verb

1

: remove

take your shoes off

2

a

: to take or allow as a discount : deduct

took 10 percent off

b

: to spend (a period of time) away from a usual occupation or activity

took two weeks off

c

: release

take the brake off

d

: discontinue, withdraw

took off the morning train

3

slang : rob

intransitive verb

1

a

: to start off or away often suddenly : set out, depart

took off for her trip

b

: to leave the surface : begin flight

c

: to spring into wide use or popularity

d(1)

: to branch off (as from a main stream or stem)

(2)

: to take a point of origin

e

: to begin a leap or spring

f

: to embark on rapid activity, development, or growth

2

: to take away : detract

Synonyms

Noun

• blastoff
• launch
• liftoff

Verb

• bail
• bail out
• begone
• book [slang]
• bug off
• bug out
• bugger off [British slang]
• buzz (off)
• clear off [chiefly British]
• clear out
• cut out
• depart
• dig out
• exit
• get
• get off
• go
• go off
• move
• pack (up or off)
• part
• peel off
• pike (out or off)
• pull out
• push off
• push on
• quit
• run along
• sally (forth)
• scarper [British]
• shove (off)
• step (along)
• vamoose
• walk out

Examples of takeoff in a Sentence

Noun

Please remain seated during takeoff.

Air Force One, you're ready for takeoff.

All the high jumpers had flawless takeoffs.

Verb

I can only stay for a few minutes, and then I'll need to take off again.

take off your coat and stay awhile

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The plane's crew reported that engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap, the FAA said. —Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

The balloon had been carrying 13 people at takeoff. —Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024

Jackson added that a glance at the person behind you after takeoff can help inform your decision on whether to recline. —Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024

Refunds will be granted for reservations made seven days (168 hours) or more before takeoff. —Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024

Then this year, in early January, the blowout of a main cabin door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight, 16,000 feet over Portland, Ore., shortly after takeoff, sounded a boom heard round the world. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024

One nervous traveler touches the outside of the airplane while boarding and prays before takeoff. —Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024

One United jet landed with pieces of aluminum skin missing from its fuselage, and in another case, a jet lost a wheel during takeoff. —Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024

This time, the 737 Max production has been slowed because of the door plug that blew off of a 737 Max 9 on an Alaska Air flight soon after takeoff, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the jet. —Chris Isidore, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024

Verb

Reusable, winged orbiters would take off strapped to rockets, sail through Earth’s orbit and glide to an airplane-esque runway landing. —Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

These aircraft take off and land like a helicopter. —Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024

But this week all eight teams are on the road and Johnston is challenged to make sure all the planes take off smoothly and the teams have successful debuts in their home markets. —Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024

And that’s happening even before its first flights take off from the suburban Charlotte airport. —Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024

The second woman, who chose to remain anonymous in speaking with Rolling Stone about Nelson, says her TikTok account seemed to take off thanks to her place of employment: a local plain store (or general store) owned by Mennonites. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024

Polly's disappearance, which made headlines across the country in newspapers and on television, also became known as the first high-profile missing persons case to circulate on the internet in 1993, when computers were just taking off. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 6 Apr. 2024

The trial: The March 4 trial date has been taken off the calendar andjury selection has been postponed indefinitely while Trump’s claim of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution remains on appeal. —Spencer Hsu, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

Near disasters for planes on the ground On February 4, 2023, a FedEx jet came within 150 feet of the runway before its pilots realized a Southwest jet was in the process of taking off on the same runway. —Chris Isidore, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

takeoff

1 of 2 noun

take·​off ˈtā-ˌkȯf 

1

: imitation entry 1 sense 2

especially : parody sense 1

2

a

: a rise or leap from a surface in making a jump or flight in an aircraft or spacecraft

b

: an action of starting out

3

: a spot at which one takes off

take off

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)tā-ˈkȯf

1

a

: remove entry 1 sense 2

take your hat off

b

: to take away : deduct

take off 10 percent

2

: release entry 1 sense 1

take the brake off

3

: to spend (some time) away from an activity or occupation

took two weeks off in August

4

a

: to start off or away often suddenly

took off without saying goodbye

b

: to begin flight

planes taking off

c

: to develop or grow rapidly