as in launch
a rising from a surface at the start of a flight (as of a rocket) everyone was quiet in the control room as they waited for lift-off

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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 liftoff And unlike the last several missions that ended prematurely due to technical problems, SpaceX returned Starship to Earth with a landing burn and splashdown in the Indian Ocean, west of Australia, a little over an hour after liftoff, a critical milestone for the company. Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025 Flights 7, 8 and 9 ended in failure after liftoff earlier this year, and another rocket exploded on a test stand in June. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2025 The July 21 attempt aborted with just under 15 seconds on the clock ahead of a 5:27 p.m. liftoff attempt. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025 Ground crews then rolled the ship back to a nearby hangar for engine inspections, touchups to its heat shield, and a handful of other chores to ready it for liftoff. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for liftoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liftoff
Noun
  • During September, nationwide organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, NAMI and 988 Lifeline launch initiatives to raise awareness and take action for suicide prevention.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • In an exclusive interview, the rapper and actress opens up about navigating menopause and announces the launch of the new WeightWatchers for Menopause campaign, a holistic program to help women during the natural transition.
    Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • All but one of the 242 people on board Air India Flight 171 on June 12 were killed when the Boeing Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad in western India.
    Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The strike occurred during takeoff, FedEx officials confirmed.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Liftoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liftoff. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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