: 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
At liftoff, Earth and Mars weren't in planetary position for a direct trip by the probes.
—
Leonard David, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2026
The May 6 attempt was scrubbed two hours before liftoff because of valve on ULA’s upper Centaur stage that teams continue to investigate.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Last weekend, the astronauts completed a key launch-day rehearsal, which involved donning their flight suits, boarding the Orion spacecraft and running through the countdown sequence to the point just before liftoff.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 27 Dec. 2025
The New Shepard capsule touched down about 10-and-a-half minutes after liftoff.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
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Leonard David, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2026
The May 6 attempt was scrubbed two hours before liftoff because of valve on ULA’s upper Centaur stage that teams continue to investigate.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Last weekend, the astronauts completed a key launch-day rehearsal, which involved donning their flight suits, boarding the Orion spacecraft and running through the countdown sequence to the point just before liftoff.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 27 Dec. 2025
The New Shepard capsule touched down about 10-and-a-half minutes after liftoff.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 20 Dec. 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 11 Jan. 2026.
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liftoff
noun
lift·off
ˈlif-ˌtȯf 
: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)
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