liftoff

noun

lift·​off ˈlift-ˌȯf 

: a vertical takeoff by an aircraft or a rocket vehicle or missile

Synonyms of liftoff

• launch
• takeoff

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

All its major engines ignited before liftoff, reducing the uncertainty involved in starting engines during flight. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026

Both Starship liftoffs this year have been suborbital test flights. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026

A couple of hours before the balloon's liftoff from the Tuileries, the area was already packed. — Hannah Bloch, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026

The Spectrum rocket faltered on its first test flight in March 2025, when the launcher spun out of control less than 20 seconds after liftoff and crashed near the launch pad. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for liftoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff
• runoff

Kids Definition

liftoff

noun

lift·​off ˈlif-ˌtȯf 

: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)