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

touched down; touching down; touches down

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

Synonyms & Antonyms for touchdown

Synonyms: Verb

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 The Cowboys lost Gallup late in the season to a knee injury while catching a touchdown pass against the Arizona Cardinals. — Matt Goul, cleveland, 11 Jan. 2022 The Crimson Tide won that aforementioned meeting on a walk-off touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith in overtime that capped a stirring second-half comeback after a shocking quarterback change. — USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2022 Milroe threw the first touchdown pass of his career in a win over Southern Miss. — Matt Young, Chron, 10 Jan. 2022 Justin Herbert celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Williams to send the game into overtime. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, 10 Jan. 2022 Jauan Jennings caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Garoppolo with 26 seconds left in regulation for the 49ers (10-7), who are playoff-bound for only the second time in eight years after beating the Rams for the sixth consecutive time. — Greg Beacham, ajc, 10 Jan. 2022 Alabama's Cameron Latu, from Olympus High School, reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of the College Football Playoff championship football game against Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. — The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Jan. 2022 Goff threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown on fourth-and-goal midway through the second quarter, and Goff completed a fourth-and-1 comeback to Josh Reynolds to extend a field goal drive on the Lions’ final possession of the half. — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 10 Jan. 2022 The first drive covered 75 yards in 14 plays, the last of which was a 23-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to Joshua Palmer on fourth and 21. — Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 9 Jan. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Another robotic explorer will also touch down on the red planet. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 29 Dec. 2021 In the coming weeks, Spidey will touch down in Thailand (Dec. 23), Japan (Jan. 7) and the Philippines (Jan. 8). — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 19 Dec. 2021 Pittsburgh has been outscored 114-19 in the first half over the last six games and hasn’t scored a first-half touch down in five straight. — Adam Burke Vsin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2021 In total, Kentucky had five tornadoes touch down that same day between 7 and 9 p.m. 16 died as a result of the four other tornadoes. — Adam Hensley, The Courier-Journal, 13 Dec. 2021 Both of the billionaires' space companies are working to develop lunar landers, vehicles capable of making a gentle touch down on the moon's rocky surface. — Jackie Wattles, CNN, 19 Aug. 2021 Santa will also touch down to pose with pups on Friday evening between 5 and 7 p.m. and with kids on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. — Washington Post, 13 Dec. 2020 Zimmerman turned to her husband and said the couple were lucky to be getting on their flight out of South Africa to the Netherlands, due to touch down at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport the following morning, November 26. — Chris Stokel-walker, Wired, 1 Dec. 2021 In order to attend a Christmas family gathering, arriving travelers might need to touch down by Dec. 17 at the latest to be able to legally participate in the holiday fun. — Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2021

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.