splashdown

noun

splash·​down ˈsplash-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce splashdown (audio)
plural splashdowns
: the landing of a crewed spacecraft in the ocean
splash down intransitive verb

Examples of splashdown in a Sentence

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.
Both its stages, the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage, successfully returned for pinpoint splashdowns. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025 SpaceX’s Starship megarocket completed an hour-long test flight Monday before making a fiery splashdown in the Indian Ocean. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 Starship’s upper stage continued a climb to space on its six Raptor engines to begin a suborbital trajectory toward a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025 Up ⬆ Marty Supreme Getting a big, ballyhooed splashdown at the last major film festival of the year wasn’t a bad way for Marty Supreme to enter the Oscars conversation. Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for splashdown

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of splashdown was in 1959

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Cite this Entry

“Splashdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/splashdown. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

splashdown

noun
splash·​down ˈsplash-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce splashdown (audio)
: the landing of a spacecraft in the ocean

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