touchdown

noun

touch·down | \ˈtəch-ˌdau̇n

Definition of touchdown

(Entry 1 of 2)

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)

touch down

verb

Definition of touch down (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to reach the ground : land

transitive verb

: 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

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about touchdown

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for touchdown

Synonyms: Verb

alight, land, light, perch, roost, settle

Antonyms: Verb

blast off, take off

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: Noun

Clay ended up scoring the final touchdown but unfortunately broke his wrist in the process. — Becca Kufrin, PEOPLE.com, "Bachelorette Becca Kufrin on That 'Embarrassing' Group Date — and Falling for One 'Standup Man'," 9 July 2018 Last season, playing receiver, Schenks had 29 catches for 599 yards and 10 touchdowns on Hamilton's varsity. — Richard Obert, azcentral, "Hamilton WR/QB Brandon Schenks commits to Air Force Academy," 5 July 2018 Hines broke out last year as a junior at N.C. State, running for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns on 181 carries. — Michael Beller, SI.com, "Fantasy Football 2018 Sleepers: Why You Shouldn’t Overlook Eli Manning," 3 July 2018 Jahmon McClendon, who last week committed to San Diego State, gained 383 yards and scored eight touchdowns against San Diego High in the section Division IV championship football game last fall, but that isn’t what motivates him this summer. — Steve Brand, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Monarchs' McClendon gearing up for senior year of football," 28 June 2018 The numbers Duncan put up last season for the 2A Hornets en route to a second straight state title game are mind-boggling — 2,843 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns on the ground and nine special teams TDs. — Dave Southorn, idahostatesman, "The next small-town Idaho football star at Boise State? Broncos land in-state commit," 19 June 2018 Parker, who many would describe as a disappointment with his career numbers of 139 receptions, 1,908 yards and eight touchdowns, is the most recent example on the Dolphins. — Chris Perkins, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Dolphins' first-round picks say mentality, not just talent, key to good rookie season," 11 June 2018 At Garden City, Wilson ran for 518 yards and five touchdowns on 126 carries. — Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, "How a trip west can help Terry Wilson win the Kentucky quarterback job," 1 June 2018 That's in addition to his 1,047 total rushing yards and eight touchdowns as a fifth-year senior in 2017, and his 20 receptions for 181 yards and another score. — Christopher Dabe, NOLA.com, "How Boston Scott, once considered too small for football, became a Saints' draft pick," 17 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

They are scheduled to touch down in Ireland around noon ET. — Simon Perry, PEOPLE.com, "The Royal Fab Four Reunites! Meghan Markle Joins Harry, Will and Kate for Grand Military Service," 10 July 2018 The American president is slated to touch down in the UK on Thursday (July 12) for a four-day visit that is shaping up to be a magnet for anti-Trump protesters. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, "Green Day's 'American Idiot' Re-Enters British Charts Before Trump Visit," 10 July 2018 Like Emilia, he was also seen touching down in Scotland for the wedding yesterday. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Emilia Clarke Wears Pink to Kit Harington and Rose Leslie's Wedding in Scotland," 23 June 2018 On Thursday, Trump touched down in the United Kingdom and attended a black tie dinner with Prime Minister Theresa May at Blenheim Palace, which is in Oxfordshire and far from London. — Annie Linskey, BostonGlobe.com, "Donald Trump has long obsession with the British royal family," 13 July 2018 The following afternoon, Musk’s jet touched down in Arcata to pick up the potential life savers. — Wendy Dent, WIRED, "The Engineering Behind Elon Musk's Bid to Save Thailand's Cave Boys," 11 July 2018 The protesters began assembling even before Air Force One touched down outside London on Thursday. — James Hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: GOP candidates caught in a bind on Medicaid," 13 July 2018 After touching down at Dublin City Airport early Tuesday evening, the couple were greeted by the Taoiseach, or Prime Minister, of Ireland, Leo Varadkar. — Maura Hohman, PEOPLE.com, "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Touch Down in Dublin! See the Newlyweds’ First Ever Airport Arrival," 10 July 2018 After touching down in Dublin this afternoon, the pair had a private meeting with the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Wears a Sleeveless Little Black Dress for Her Third Outfit of the Day," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'touchdown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.