landing

noun

land·​ing ˈlan-diŋ How to pronounce landing (audio)
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

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
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.
The mission’s over so quickly that the episode doesn’t even bother to show the landing party in action. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025 Arcadia is also flat enough to make landings and takeoffs relatively safer, Musk has said. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025 Flaps are panels along the rear edge of an aircraft's wing that extend to aid with takeoff and landing. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025 Yes, the space agency has a nominal landing date in 2027 for the Artemis III mission, but no credible space industry officials believe that date is real. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for landing

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of landing was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Landing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/landing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

landing

noun
land·​ing ˈlan-diŋ How to pronounce landing (audio)
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)

More from Merriam-Webster on landing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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