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

• dock
• float
• jetty
• levee
• pier
• quai
• quay
• wharf

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

Delta Air Lines is offering compensation to passengers involved in the recent crash landing at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport runway. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025

If that doesn’t work, Leon Draisaitl’s line would be a good landing spot for Eberle. —Allan Mitchell, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025

Seattle and Las Vegas — both cities with successful WNBA teams — have been floated as potential landing spots for another franchise. —Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025

In October, an American Airlines jet missed a smaller plane during its landing approach at AUS by about 350 feet. —Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 18 Feb. 2025

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

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)