1
as in exits
to leave a place often for another
I can only stay for a few minutes, and then I'll need to take off again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in removes
to rid oneself of (a garment)
take off your coat and stay awhile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in subtracts
to take away (an amount or number) from a total
the store will take an additional 20% off if you bring in this coupon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in robs
slang
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
a gangbanger who decided to take off some fast-food joint
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of takes off
In the clip, Gelli Haha and her backup dancers twirl around vibrant decor in the sky before the singer hops behind the steering wheel of a huge, fluffy cloud and takes off on a trippy voyage.
—
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
An aircraft takes off from Beirut Airport as smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike Tuesday.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Things take a turn when Claire takes off, only to come back covered in someone else’s blood.
—Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
And this is where the movie takes off from retro mythology to become its own slovenly mod thing.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
Quadruple Loop This jump is more difficult because Malinin takes off and lands on the same leg, without the assistance of picking off the ice.
—Alice Park, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
As long as the flight takes off and lands, the transaction feels complete.
—Shain Shapiro, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
From there, the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway takes off, a 68-mile loop with tunnels and bridges that cuts through the park and the surrounding Black Hills National Forest.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
From the other side, the highway takes off in Madison and then bends off the main road to the charming town of New Glarus.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
An aircraft takes off from Beirut Airport as smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike Tuesday.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Things take a turn when Claire takes off, only to come back covered in someone else’s blood.
—Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
And this is where the movie takes off from retro mythology to become its own slovenly mod thing.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
Quadruple Loop This jump is more difficult because Malinin takes off and lands on the same leg, without the assistance of picking off the ice.
—Alice Park, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
As long as the flight takes off and lands, the transaction feels complete.
—Shain Shapiro, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
From there, the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway takes off, a 68-mile loop with tunnels and bridges that cuts through the park and the surrounding Black Hills National Forest.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
From the other side, the highway takes off in Madison and then bends off the main road to the charming town of New Glarus.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes off
Verb
-
All entrances and exits to LaGuardia Airport along Grand Central Parkway have reopened, according to the city's Notify NYC alert service.—
Jay Blackman,
NBC news,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Stairways used to evacuate passengers from the aircraft were pushed up to the emergency exits on the jet, a Bombardier CRJ.—
Jake Offenhartz,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their design removes the top tube entirely, leaving a wide open gap between the seat and the handlebar (aka no fancy dismount maneuvers required, like swinging your leg over a high top tube).—
Erica Zazo,
Outside,
27 Mar. 2026
-
That removes years of planning uncertainty.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Left fielder Mark Collins robs Galloway of a hit with a diving catch.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
And such a misapplication cheapens it and robs it of its spiritual beauty and impact.—
James Coffin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After the monsoon departs, the grasses dry out but hold their ground, providing enough to sustain cattle through the winter.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Design as identity Visually, the X26 departs from the rounded, retro styling that dominates much of the e-bike market.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Players had been negotiating for a percentage of overall revenue without factoring in expenses while the WNBA was seeking sharing tied to net revenue, mirroring the NBA’s structure that deducts expenses before sharing 50% of profits.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The company deducts the tax preparation fee from your refund before depositing the remaining balance into your account.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Israel moves fast, launching a bold military operation against a weaker Middle Eastern neighbor.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
After that, the Moon moves from LEO into VIRGO.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Leaving clean laundry in the dryer or hamper only puts off a chore until later, keeps clean clothes from its proper place, and also risks wrinkles or someone accidentally mistaking it for dirty laundry instead.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a dad, my husband gets to pick where his attention goes.—
Liana Finck,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
A little breathing room goes a long way.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Takes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/takes%20off. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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