take off 1 of 2

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takeoff

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noun

1
as in launch
a rising from a surface at the start of a flight (as of a rocket) make sure your tray table is safely put away during takeoff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in parody
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect a sitcom that's a takeoff of an old TV show from the 1960s

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 take off
Verb
The 32-year-old mine pump technician from Tampa had taken off two days of work, bid his wife and four children farewell, and driven four hours southeast to downtown Miami to attend. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025 Kayser points out that the baguette sandwich, which is a relatively recent product that only started taking off in late ’90s and early aughts, has picked up where single baguette sales have dropped off. Vivian Song, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation, has determined that the left engine of the plane detached after the plane's left wing caught fire during takeoff, WLKY reported. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 Charlotte Douglas is the sixth-busiest airport in the world for takeoffs and landings. Chase Jordan updated November 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take off
Verb
  • Nine people remain missing after a UPS plane departing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday crashed in a ball of flames, killing at least 12 people.
    Megan Forrester, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Since the father wanted to depart the country with his son, ICE attempted to work with IPS to get his son out of school before his flight.
    Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • These risks have prompted the United States, China, and other spacefaring nations to develop advanced systems for tracking, avoiding, and potentially removing orbital debris.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • My son removes his shoes and socks and joins me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • How many racist comments must be subtracted from a Nature paper before the total is negative?
    Kathryn Paige Harden, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
  • How CalFresh cuts will play out for families Under federal rules, SNAP benefits are calculated by subtracting 30% of a household’s net income from the maximum benefit for that household size.
    JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • But Gallagher couldn’t bear robbing the audience — and Marissa — of the satisfaction of his downfall.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
  • An 88-year-old Seattle woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after a man violently assaulted and robbed her, biting off her finger and stealing her jewelry, police say.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Much like Blue Origin’s chief competitor, SpaceX — which has long been a dominant force in the commercial launch business — Blue Origin rockets are designed to be partially reused in order to drive down costs.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The latter has grown into a dominant force in pay-TV, racking up 10 million subscribers just eight years after its launch.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The second posting of the parody quickly received 500,000 views and once again caught Wendy’s attention.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The inspirations for the Love Connection parody were Miami Vice's Tubbs and Crockett, though Hall acknowledged her most immediate lookalike.
    Lex Goldstein, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Then, at the next vehicle entrance, the city is proposing a tunnel so bike traffic can move without interacting with cars.
    Amir Mahmoud, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Experts attribute the drop-off to rising costs and economic uncertainty, as Americans are increasingly putting off travel plans or opting for road trips over flights.
    Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Rochelle, busy with the kids, classes and a reporter shadowing her daily life, put off a reply until a slower day.
    Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Take off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take%20off. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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