1
as in departed
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 removed
to rid oneself of (a garment)
take off your coat and stay awhile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deducted
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 robbed
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 took off
Things really took off during a March 2025 event, where people brought and tasted over 1,300 cakes at San Francisco’s Legion of Honor.
—
Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
The deputy then fired his gun, and the group took off in a car, according to officials.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
Murray then took off running toward the parking lot, and the shooter ran in another direction.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
But those glasses never really took off and eventually faded away.
—Cortney Harding, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Delaware Superior Court blames Boeing and Honeywell, which made the switches, for the crash seconds after Flight 171 took off for London from the Indian city of Ahmedabad.
—Reuters, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
Kogonada’s highly distinctive film career took off in 2012, with a series of critically incisive video essays on such subjects as Alfred Hitchcock, Wes Anderson, neorealism, and Yasujirō Ozu, which rapidly established him as a key figure in cinephile circles.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Although Mariah’s career took off decades before streaming exploded in popularity, the 56-year-old legend is no stranger to embracing the new format.
—Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2025
After ringing the bell, the young boys took off, making it at least 20 feet away before the suspect walked to the edge of his property and two shots rang out — one finding its mark in Julián’s back, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told CNN.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
The deputy then fired his gun, and the group took off in a car, according to officials.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
Murray then took off running toward the parking lot, and the shooter ran in another direction.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
But those glasses never really took off and eventually faded away.
—Cortney Harding, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Delaware Superior Court blames Boeing and Honeywell, which made the switches, for the crash seconds after Flight 171 took off for London from the Indian city of Ahmedabad.
—Reuters, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
Kogonada’s highly distinctive film career took off in 2012, with a series of critically incisive video essays on such subjects as Alfred Hitchcock, Wes Anderson, neorealism, and Yasujirō Ozu, which rapidly established him as a key figure in cinephile circles.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Although Mariah’s career took off decades before streaming exploded in popularity, the 56-year-old legend is no stranger to embracing the new format.
—Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2025
After ringing the bell, the young boys took off, making it at least 20 feet away before the suspect walked to the edge of his property and two shots rang out — one finding its mark in Julián’s back, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told CNN.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took off
Verb
-
Ramy Youssef and Josh Rabinowitz, who were credited as co-creators and executive producers when Netflix picked up the series in May 2024, have since departed over creative differences.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Having left Netflix in August after nearly 14 years at the streamer, Friedlander serves as the successor to Vernon Sanders, who departed as the TV boss earlier in September.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The woman died shortly after being removed from the car.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Earlier this year, Ohio's Republican lawmakers tried to eliminate an effort that would have allowed children to remain on Medicaid until their fourth birthdays, regardless of changes in circumstances that would have otherwise removed them from the health insurance program.—
Jessie Balmert,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For its entry-level healthcare package, Amazon employees will see $5 per week deducted from their pay; the company also said that, for standard visits, employees will pay a $5 copay.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Bargatze said acceptance speeches were limited to just 45 seconds, and that $1,000 would be deducted for every second that winners went over.—
Carmine Gallo,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hamas has robbed the Palestinian people, deprived them of their lives and freedom, and cannot dictate their future.—
Ben Kelly,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Ranzy’s attorney, assistant public defender Alex Vian, asked Judge Bryce Ehrman that he be released on $10,000 conditional bail, arguing that he was robbed at gunpoint and defended himself.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But even more disappointing than Prescott's performance was the fact that star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb exited in the first quarter after suffering an apparent ankle injury.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Sep. 2025
-
In the second half, Diggs exited briefly after suffering a shoulder injury while making a tackle.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dennis-Sutton, like Allar and about a half dozen of their talented teammates, decided to put off the NFL to return to Happy Valley this season to chase championships and finally help relieve Franklin of his big-game burden.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Students from the kingdom are increasingly turning away from US universities in particular, put off by a mix of hostile immigration policies, concerns over gun violence, and the kingdom’s own push to grow its domestic education sector.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Politics, however, can’t be subtracted from this equation.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
20 Sep. 2025
-
For every second over 45 seconds, a thousand dollars would be subtracted.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Scheffler and partner Russell Henley moved along to what would end as a 3&2 defeat, while MacIntyre blew kisses at the crowd.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Tropical Storm Imelda moved over the Bahamas on Sunday, bringing heavy rain and tropical-storm-force winds to the region as watches and warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Hurricane Center (NHC) remained in effect for parts of the Bahamas and the east coast of Florida.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Took off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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