touch·down
ˈtəch-ˌdau̇n 
1
: the act of touching a football to the ground behind an opponent's goal
specifically
: the act of scoring six points in American football by being lawfully in possession of the ball on, above, or behind an opponent's goal line when the ball is declared dead
2
: the act or moment of touching down (as with an airplane or spacecraft)
touched down; touching down; touches down
: to reach the ground : land
: to place (the ball in rugby) by hand on the ground on or over an opponent's goal line in scoring a try or behind one's own goal line as a defensive measure
Examples of touchdown in a Sentence
Noun
What was the plane's speed at touchdown?
Verb
the plane will touch down in about 30 minutes
Recent Examples on the Web
Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2023
Toki had a 40-yard touchdown pass to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2023
While Maes did most of his damage in the first half, scoring three touchdowns, Herman was fresh for the second.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2023
Bulldogs quarterback Jack Turner was 9-of-20 with a touchdown pass.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 30 Sep. 2023
The 12-time Grammy winner was seen sitting next to the NFL players' mom, Donna Kelce, cheering for Travis and even exchanging a celebratory chest bump with his friend after a touchdown.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023
Kelce even scored a touchdown in the third quarter.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2023
One fan account Tweeted out a quick crash course breaking down who gets to keep the ball for how long, and how a touchdown is scored (this will come in handy later).
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2023
Fans have spent the hours since poring over footage of the pop star banging ecstatically on the glass and cheering after Kelce scored a touchdown in the third quarter, as well as photos and video of Swift leaving the stadium with Kelce at her side.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2023
Imelda García, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023
With Sonoran tejano hat tilted to the side, Carin León and his botas will touch down on the Stagecoach stage for the first time next year.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Patrick Dempsey — and his famous locks — have touched down at the Venice International Film Festival!
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2023
At least four tornadoes touched down in Michigan as part of severe storms powered by strong winds that killed at least five people, while downing trees, tearing roofs off buildings and leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without power, officials said.
—Corey Williams and Mike Householder The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2023
Seven tornadoes touched down in Michigan during the late-night thunderstorms that rapidly swept across the lower half of the state earlier this week, the National Weather Service said.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 26 Aug. 2023
Courtesy of The Las Vegas Aces The 64,000-square-foot building has an interior that looks like a spacecraft that’s touched down from the future.
—Emma Carmichael, ELLE, 24 Aug. 2023
India's craft was the first to touch down on the moon's rugged south pole.
—Harold Maass, The Week, 24 Aug. 2023
But, what will become of the two once the wheels touch down in London, what will come of this chance encounter, and is love at first sight real?
—Maggie Horton, Country Living, 8 Sep. 2023
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Noun
The Aggies have won three games in overtime and three others by a touchdown or less.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2023
Toki had a 40-yard touchdown pass to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2023
While Maes did most of his damage in the first half, scoring three touchdowns, Herman was fresh for the second.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2023
Bulldogs quarterback Jack Turner was 9-of-20 with a touchdown pass.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 30 Sep. 2023
The 12-time Grammy winner was seen sitting next to the NFL players' mom, Donna Kelce, cheering for Travis and even exchanging a celebratory chest bump with his friend after a touchdown.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023
Kelce even scored a touchdown in the third quarter.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2023
One fan account Tweeted out a quick crash course breaking down who gets to keep the ball for how long, and how a touchdown is scored (this will come in handy later).
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2023
Fans have spent the hours since poring over footage of the pop star banging ecstatically on the glass and cheering after Kelce scored a touchdown in the third quarter, as well as photos and video of Swift leaving the stadium with Kelce at her side.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2023
Verb
Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour is touching down in Arlington at AT&T Stadium Sept. 21, and some restaurants created cocktails in her honor to celebrate Queen B’s stop in North Texas.
—Imelda García, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023
With Sonoran tejano hat tilted to the side, Carin León and his botas will touch down on the Stagecoach stage for the first time next year.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Patrick Dempsey — and his famous locks — have touched down at the Venice International Film Festival!
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2023
At least four tornadoes touched down in Michigan as part of severe storms powered by strong winds that killed at least five people, while downing trees, tearing roofs off buildings and leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without power, officials said.
—Corey Williams and Mike Householder The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2023
Seven tornadoes touched down in Michigan during the late-night thunderstorms that rapidly swept across the lower half of the state earlier this week, the National Weather Service said.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 26 Aug. 2023
Courtesy of The Las Vegas Aces The 64,000-square-foot building has an interior that looks like a spacecraft that’s touched down from the future.
—Emma Carmichael, ELLE, 24 Aug. 2023
India's craft was the first to touch down on the moon's rugged south pole.
—Harold Maass, The Week, 24 Aug. 2023
But, what will become of the two once the wheels touch down in London, what will come of this chance encounter, and is love at first sight real?
—Maggie Horton, Country Living, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'touchdown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1859, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near touchdown
Cite this Entry
“Touchdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchdown. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
touchdown
1 of 2 noun
touch·down
ˈtəch-ˌdau̇n
1
: the act of touching a football to the ground behind an opponent's goal
2
: the act of scoring six points in American football by carrying the ball over the opponent's goal line
3
: the act or moment of touching down (as with an airplane or spacecraft)
touch down
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)təch-ˈdau̇n
: to reach the ground : land
More from Merriam-Webster on touchdown
Nglish: Translation of touchdown for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about touchdown
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