: a vertical takeoff by an aircraft or a rocket vehicle or missile
Examples of liftoff in a Sentence
a series of successful liftoffs
Thousand of spectators gathered to watch the liftoff of the space shuttle.
Recent Examples on the Web
The first-stage booster made a successful 21st liftoff, but was expended to get the satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
SpaceX launched launch a massive cargo ship packed with over 5 tons of gear for astronauts on the International Space Station early Saturday (April 11), then aced a rocket landing minutes after the Florida liftoff.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Following liftoff on April 1, the 10‑day mission sent four astronauts on a flyby around the moon, testing life‑support, navigation and propulsion systems in deep space without landing, NASA said.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
On the live broadcast, NASA commentator Derrol Nail started with the countdown to liftoff.
—Lauren Linder, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
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Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
SpaceX launched launch a massive cargo ship packed with over 5 tons of gear for astronauts on the International Space Station early Saturday (April 11), then aced a rocket landing minutes after the Florida liftoff.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Following liftoff on April 1, the 10‑day mission sent four astronauts on a flyby around the moon, testing life‑support, navigation and propulsion systems in deep space without landing, NASA said.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
On the live broadcast, NASA commentator Derrol Nail started with the countdown to liftoff.
—Lauren Linder, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
Cite this Entry
“Liftoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liftoff. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
liftoff
noun
lift·off
ˈlif-ˌtȯf 
: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)
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