landing

noun

land·​ing ˈlan-diŋ 

1

: an act or process of one that lands

especially : a going or bringing to a surface (such as land or shore) after a voyage or flight

2

: a place for discharging and taking on passengers and cargo

3

: a level part of a staircase (as at the end of a flight of stairs)

4

landings plural : the amount of fish or shellfish landed annually in a particular area

Synonyms of landing

• dock
• wharf
• pier

Examples of landing in a Sentence

The plane made a smooth landing.

The helicopter had to make an emergency landing.

The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings.

Landing in high winds can be dangerous.

Our plane was cleared for landing.

We stopped to rest at the first floor landing.

I waited at the landing for the ferry.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sadiq has considerable potential as a starting tight end in fantasy, but his immediate outlook is hindered by his NFL landing spot. — John Riker, New York Times, 20 July 2026

The plane’s landing rights had been revoked, apparently under political pressure. — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Propulsion system moves toward flight testing The AVEN is the main part that gives X-BAT the ability to direct its thrust for vertical takeoff, landing, and hovering. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026

Aside from the Soviet Mars 3 lander that lasted only a few seconds on the world before losing contact, Viking 1 was the first Mars lander to survive landing and successfully went on to study the planet. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing landing

• dead-stick landing
• instrument landing
• landing craft
• landing field
• landing gear
• landing strip
• moon landing
• pancake landing
• three-point landing

Rhymes for landing

• banding
• branding
• handing
• sanding
• standing
• stranding
• commanding
• demanding
• disbanding
• expanding
• freestanding
• misbranding

Kids Definition

landing

noun

land·​ing ˈlan-diŋ 

1

: the action of one that lands

2

: a place (as a wharf) for unloading or taking on passengers and cargo

3

: the level part of a staircase (as between flights of stairs)