take off 1 of 2

1
2
3
4

takeoff

2 of 2

noun

1
as in launch
a rising from a surface at the start of a flight (as of a rocket) make sure your tray table is safely put away during takeoff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in parody
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect a sitcom that's a takeoff of an old TV show from the 1960s

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of take off
Verb
Jimmy Kimmel has taken off for his summer holiday, paving the way for a swathe of celebrity guest hosts. Peter White, Deadline, 20 June 2025 Shoe Tips for Traveling One of my biggest tips for guaranteeing that your feet will survive a trip with a lot of sightseeing is wearing the shoes before your flight takes off. Olivia Marcus, StyleCaster, 20 June 2025
Noun
An American Airlines flight made an emergency landing Wednesday morning in Las Vegas when witnesses said an engine caught fire shortly after takeoff. David Matthews, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025 An airport spokesperson said that smoke came from its left engine after takeoff. June 25, CBS News, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for take off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take off
Verb
  • The criminal complaint alleges that she was captured on surveillance footage carrying a black backpack entering the locker room area, appearing to take a photo of the vicinity, and departing without the backpack.
    Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 1 July 2025
  • Over time, many of the drivers of their upside, from George Springer to Carlos Correa to Gerrit Cole to Justin Verlander to Tucker and Bregman, departed.
    Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The museum worked with American Airlines mechanics to remove those control surfaces.
    Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2025
  • The partnership removes technical barriers from accepting crypto payments by operating within existing Shopify payment flows and handling blockchain complexity behind the scenes.
    Anastasia Chernikova, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • But subtracting from their top-five offense might be necessary for the Diamondbacks to improve the pitching.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 20 June 2025
  • The Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce has calculated the ROI for college degrees by looking at median earnings after graduation and subtracting the average net price of attaining a bachelor’s degree.
    Bryan Penprase, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • McNeil made a highlight-reel catch in the first inning to rob Marcell Ozuna of extra bases, scaling the wall in center field, and giving Holmes a chance to pitch with zeroes on the board.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025
  • Twelve years ago high school basketball player Tony Farmer collapsed after hearing his sentence in criminal court for kidnapping, assaulting and robbing a former girlfriend.
    Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • In contrast, Iran’s unprecedented launch of hundreds of missiles and drones deliberately targets Israeli civilians — firing at major cities, neighborhoods and population centers, aiming to murder as many innocent people as possible — Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.
    Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
  • Iran denied any missile launch after the ceasefire began and condemned Israel’s pre-dawn attacks.
    Nik Popli, Time, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • The unserious image conveys how much the drama has become a parody of itself.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
  • When Israel launched its full-scale war against Iran on June 13, the jingoistic Beach Boys parody once again began to make the rounds.
    Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Wales have done well under Wilkinson to move away from a hardened reputation as being Fishlock’s team and become more of a sum of their parts.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 June 2025
  • Employees are held to high speed standards, with some scanning up to 1,200 items an hour to keep lines moving.
    Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • To push forward the maiden flights from 2026 to this year, DARPA is focusing on autonomous systems and payloads while putting off specific requirements regarding maximum physical dimensions and autonomous takeoff/landing capabilities in high sea states.
    David Szondy June 27, New Atlas, 27 June 2025
  • Plans for conversion of the upstairs into a boutique hotel never advanced, while the city put off renovations and repairs.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Take off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take%20off. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on take off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!