took off

Definition of took offnext
past tense of take 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 took off Almost 55 years since Southwest’s first flight took off from Dallas Love Field, its CEO has abandoned its distinctive embrace of open seating, single-class cabins and letting customers check two bags for free. Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026 The movie project came to pass after the shortform drama took off, notching 9M views in its first month. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026 The driver involved in the crash took off before police arrived. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026 Laflare added that Blatt has always been well-known in the community, even before her rap career took off. Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025 So, bike bus just took off as a small effort. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025 After the shooting, Duren took off with the kids, prompting an Amber Alert, WMUR reported. Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025 Under the pretense of going to the bathroom, Dunne escaped out the window and took off in her car, which Sweeney jumped the hood of. Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 The monkey took off from the owner. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took off
Verb
  • Trump quickly took to social media to claim the vessel had departed from Venezuela and had been carrying drugs.
    NPR, NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
  • In the same period in 2024, 1,652 CEOs departed.
    Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Ferguson had served as director since 2019, according to her bio on the school’s website, which has since been removed.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The danger is greatest for those with final deportation orders, as they can be removed immediately once their temporary status expires.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • An Associated Press investigation in 2010 found that some students were being forced to dance at strip clubs, while others were being paid less than $1 an hour after labor brokers deducted fees.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Previously, the amount that could be deducted was capped at $10,000.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 2 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The pandemic robbed the 2022 Games in Beijing of their luster.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Wiser heads, though, can see that the fraud also robbed funds from those who needed them the most and that rooting out fraud should not be a partisan issue.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Police said a 30-year-old Meridian man exited the vehicle and walked away from the location, while the driver stayed and cooperated with officers.
    Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026
  • After speeding past traffic at 100 mph, the driver exited the freeway in Woodland Hills and continued to recklessly drive onto the wrong side of the road and swerve between lanes in nearby Canoga Park.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
  • Once the assessed value is established, any qualifying exemptions get subtracted.
    Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The down payment is subtracted from the $6,000 of negative equity.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • They are felt as they are composed, painfully, joyously, cellularly—and they are designed for other biological beings to experience, to connect with, to be animated, provoked and moved by.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Led by quarterback Tony Pike, the Bearcats moved quickly down the field, setting up a first down at Pitt’s 29-yard line with 33 seconds left.
    The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Took off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20off. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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