take off

verb

took off; taken off; taking off; takes off

transitive verb

1

: remove

take your shoes off

2

a

: to take or allow as a discount : deduct

took 10 percent off

b

: to spend (a period of time) away from a usual occupation or activity

took two weeks off

c

: release

take the brake off

d

: discontinue, withdraw

took off the morning train

3

slang : rob

intransitive verb

1

a

: to start off or away often suddenly : set out, depart

took off for her trip

b

: to leave the surface : begin flight

c

: to spring into wide use or popularity

d(1)

: to branch off (as from a main stream or stem)

(2)

: to take a point of origin

e

: to begin a leap or spring

f

: to embark on rapid activity, development, or growth

2

: to take away : detract

Synonyms of take off

• depart
• move
• exit
• go
• get
• get off
• pull out
• push off
• peel off
• walk out
• run along
• clear out
• push on
• start
• cut out
• clear off
• go off
• escape
• shove (off)
• step (along)
• evacuate

Examples of take off in a Sentence

I can only stay for a few minutes, and then I'll need to take off again.

take off your coat and stay awhile

Recent Examples on the Web

And even as Demure took off on TikTok, most women got the side wink. —Literary Hub, 8 June 2026

The Vegas Golden Knights saw two goals taken off the board in less than four minutes during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on challenges by Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. —Chris Johnston, New York Times, 7 June 2026

Internal disagreements over strategy, including the role of tech donors, also emerged as a key reason Mahan failed to take off. —Grace Hase, Mercury News, 7 June 2026

His plane took off just as one carrying his wife landed. —Kevin Baxter follow june 7, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for take off

• cerenkov
• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff

Kids Definition

takeoff

1 of 2 noun

take·​off ˈtā-ˌkȯf 

1

: imitation entry 1 sense 2

especially : parody sense 1

2

a

: a rise or leap from a surface in making a jump or flight in an aircraft or spacecraft

b

: an action of starting out

3

: a spot at which one takes off

take off

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)tā-ˈkȯf

1

a

: remove entry 1 sense 2

take your hat off

b

: to take away : deduct

take off 10 percent

2

: release entry 1 sense 1

take the brake off

3

: to spend (some time) away from an activity or occupation

took two weeks off in August

4

a

: to start off or away often suddenly

took off without saying goodbye

b

: to begin flight

planes taking off

c

: to develop or grow rapidly