1
as in departing
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in removing
to rid oneself of (a garment)
take off your coat and stay awhile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in subtracting
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 robbing
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 taking off
During that time, the suspects took the woman's bracelet off her wrist without her knowing before taking off, according to police.
—
Dejanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
For example, Dublin Airport (DUB) and Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL) both have United States pre-clearance facilities, where a traveler goes through the necessary visit with a CBP officer before taking off.
—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Why the honey scent trend is taking off The appeal of a honey scent comes down to balance.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
Ramaswamy became Snowflake’s chief executive in 2024, as the AI boom was taking off.
—
Sebastian Herrera,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Brian's car then flips multiple times and lands in a body of water, with the driver responsible apparently taking off.
—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
The mission brought a roller coaster of highs and lows after taking off from SpaceX’s Starbase launch facilities at Texas’ southernmost tip.
—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
22 May 2026
Look at the success that Pamela Anderson is having after taking off all her makeup.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
The New Glenn’s first test flight occurred on January 16, 2025, taking off from Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 May 2026
Dejanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
For example, Dublin Airport (DUB) and Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL) both have United States pre-clearance facilities, where a traveler goes through the necessary visit with a CBP officer before taking off.
—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Why the honey scent trend is taking off The appeal of a honey scent comes down to balance.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
Ramaswamy became Snowflake’s chief executive in 2024, as the AI boom was taking off.
—
Sebastian Herrera,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Brian's car then flips multiple times and lands in a body of water, with the driver responsible apparently taking off.
—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
The mission brought a roller coaster of highs and lows after taking off from SpaceX’s Starbase launch facilities at Texas’ southernmost tip.
—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
22 May 2026
Look at the success that Pamela Anderson is having after taking off all her makeup.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
The New Glenn’s first test flight occurred on January 16, 2025, taking off from Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking off
Verb
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Geoff was concerned about his children departing for college, leaving him and his wife as empty nesters.
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Also departing was Celebrity Autobiography, the specialty show with a rotating cast of stars reading the memoirs of other celebrities to comic effect.
Verb
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Crews are focusing on the 15 feet along the roadsides, trimming trees that are still alive to help prevent fire from laddering into the crowns and removing dead trees.
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In fact, according to Rakestraw, one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is assuming the babies have been abandoned and removing them immediately.
Verb
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Gross profit is revenue without subtracting the cost of production expenses.
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What did help ease respondent's minds, based on the survey results, was having a higher net worth, found by subtracting a household's liabilities from its assets.
Verb
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Vukelich believes artificial intelligence is robbing teens of some potential jobs and that laws to boost the minimum wage in some states have pitted first-time job-seekers against more experienced candidates.
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This announcement came after two teens were arrested for allegedly robbing another juvenile at gunpoint during a teen link-up at THE AVENUE at White Marsh.
Verb
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An Uber driver taking fans to Kansas City’s first World Cup match was injured, as was a woman who was exiting Interstate 70 on her way to pick up her brother.
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The ships included eight tankers and two cargo ships exiting the Persian Gulf and eight tankers and six cargo ships entering it.
Verb
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But be careful about putting off work for too long.
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While delaying care may seem like a practical way to manage vet costs in the short term, putting off treatment can sometimes create larger financial and medical challenges in the future.
Verb
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After deducting their settlement fee and other charges, the net savings typically range from 20% to 25% of the original balance.
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Beginning in 2026, the rules surrounding deducting losses become even more penalizing.
Verb
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Hotel security believed Zimmerman was intoxicated before his show during soundcheck, reportedly falling and stumbling onstage, throwing microphones, tossing cymbals, knocking over parts of his drum kit, swinging a guitar, and more.
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Beteille said his group was waved through a metal detector before another security employee pushed them forward, knocking over part of it.
Cite this Entry
“Taking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20off. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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