touchdown

1 of 2

noun

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)

touch down

2 of 2

verb

touched down; touching down; touches down

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 of touchdown

Verb

• perch
• land
• light

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

After missing Sunday’s win in Philadelphia with a hamstring injury, Skattebo returned Thursday with 78 rushing yards on 18 carries, including touchdowns of one and 13 yards. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 13 Nov. 2026

Northern ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns while Graham supplied 90 yards rushing. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026

Verb

The National Weather Service confirmed that 39 tornadoes have touched down so far in the Pleasant Hill forecast office’s jurisdiction, which includes 37 counties across northern and western Missouri and seven counties in extreme northeastern Kansas. — Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2026

Only four tornadoes have been recorded to touch down in Delaware between 1810 and 2025, 15 in New Jersey and 41 in Pennsylvania. — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1859, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for touchdown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

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