: 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
Super Heavy alone is powered by 33 of SpaceX’s Raptor engines that give the initial burst of thrust at liftoff.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
From liftoff to landing, the entire mission lasted 10 minutes and 21 seconds.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
How to watch SpaceX Starlink launch livestream As with most SpaceX missions, the launch will be available to stream on the company's website and its new X TV mobile app, beginning about five minutes before liftoff.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 7 Oct. 2025
After launching, the Orion spacecraft will separate from the upper stage of the SLS rocket a little more than three hours after liftoff.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
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Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
From liftoff to landing, the entire mission lasted 10 minutes and 21 seconds.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
How to watch SpaceX Starlink launch livestream As with most SpaceX missions, the launch will be available to stream on the company's website and its new X TV mobile app, beginning about five minutes before liftoff.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 7 Oct. 2025
After launching, the Orion spacecraft will separate from the upper stage of the SLS rocket a little more than three hours after liftoff.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
Cite this Entry
“Liftoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liftoff. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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liftoff
noun
lift·off
ˈlif-ˌtȯf 
: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)
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