airplane

noun

ˈer-ˌplān How to pronounce airplane (audio)
Definition of airplanenext
as in plane
a vehicle for traveling through the air that has fixed wings for lift my uncle learned how to fly an airplane while serving in the air force

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of airplane And in 2022, Ristroph studied the surpassingly complex aerodynamics of what makes a good paper airplane—specifically what is needed for smooth gliding. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026 Chilly airplane cabins are no match for the White & Warren Cashmere Travel Wrap. — Morgan Ashley Parker, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2026 Bremner followed the first round of Saturday’s draft from an airplane, watching on the seat-back screen in front of him. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026 Amazon has tons of travel backpacks that are TSA-friendly, roomy, and designed to fit under airplane seats. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for airplane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for airplane
  1. plane
  2. aeroplane
  3. airliner
Noun
  • That is a long time to be in the company of the same few dozen people, day after day, flight after flight, from plane to bus to hotel to bus and back again.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Tensions began to flare earlier this month when the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of trying to prevent an Iranian plane from carrying a Houthi delegation to Tehran for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of plane
Noun
  • The occasional booing of famous England players has been an integral part of the Wembley experience over the years, almost as commonplace as paper aeroplanes.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2026
  • No distractions, no aeroplanes, no noise, no traffic.
    — Emma Banks, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of aeroplane
Noun
  • The plane stopped, passengers scurried to the terminal and airport employees climbed up on the wings trying to keep the airliner from blowing away.
    — Dan Kelly July 8, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
  • Boeing developed the platform from the commercial 737 Next Generation airliner before extensively modifying it for military operations.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
Definition of airliner

Browse Nearby Words

air parks
airplane
airplanes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airplane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airplane. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on airplane

Nglish: Translation of airplane for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about airplane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All