takeoff

1 of 2

noun

take·​off ˈtāk-ˌȯf How to pronounce takeoff (audio)
1
a
: a rise or leap from a surface in making a jump or flight or an ascent in an aircraft or in the launching of a rocket
b
: an action of starting out
c
: a rapid rise in activity, growth, or popularity
an economic takeoff
2
: an imitation especially in the way of caricature
3
a
: a spot at which one takes off
b
: a starting point : point of departure
4
: an action of removing something
5
: a mechanism for transmission of the power of an engine or vehicle to operate some other mechanism

take off

2 of 2

verb

took off; taken off; taking off; takes off

transitive verb

1
: remove
take your shoes off
2
a
: to take or allow as a discount : deduct
took 10 percent off
b
: to spend (a period of time) away from a usual occupation or activity
took two weeks off
c
: release
take the brake off
d
: discontinue, withdraw
took off the morning train
3
slang : rob

intransitive verb

1
a
: to start off or away often suddenly : set out, depart
took off for her trip
b
: to leave the surface : begin flight
c
: to spring into wide use or popularity
d(1)
: to branch off (as from a main stream or stem)
(2)
: to take a point of origin
e
: to begin a leap or spring
f
: to embark on rapid activity, development, or growth
2
: to take away : detract

Examples of takeoff in a Sentence

Noun Please remain seated during takeoff. Air Force One, you're ready for takeoff. All the high jumpers had flawless takeoffs. Verb I can only stay for a few minutes, and then I'll need to take off again. take off your coat and stay awhile
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The American Airlines flight was headed from Punta Cana toward Charlotte when Stefanie Smith, 41, began convulsing soon after takeoff, forcing the plane to divert to Turks and Caicos, Smith's friend, Maria Yannotti, told Fox News Digital. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2024 Earlier this month, a United Airlines flight traveling from San Francisco to Japan had to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after the Boeing 777 plane lost a tire shortly after takeoff. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 One of its aircraft ran off a taxiway at Houston on Friday, another lost a tire after takeoff from San Francisco and a flame-spewing engine forced another into an emergency landing. Alicia Diaz, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024 In the attack, a Pan Am transatlantic flight from Frankfurt to Detroit was destroyed by a bomb 38 minutes after takeoff while flying over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2024 It was discovered the door on that flight had been missing bolts prior to takeoff, leading to the FAA announcing an investigation into Boeing’s manufacturing practices and production line. Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Alaska Airlines flight attendant Amber May was preparing for takeoff from Atlanta to Seattle last summer when a passenger’s call light came on. Cathy Free, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 Odysseus separated from the launch rocket about an hour after takeoff a week ago. Mackenzie McCarty, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Feb. 2024 It was discovered the door on that flight had been missing bolts prior to takeoff, leading to an FAA investigation into Boeing’s manufacturing practices and production line. Forbes Daily, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Verb
Near disasters for planes on the ground On February 4, 2023, a FedEx jet came within 150 feet of the runway before its pilots realized a Southwest jet was in the process of taking off on the same runway. Chris Isidore, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024 On March 18, 2023, Angela Craig was taken off life support. Natalie Morales, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2024 The 63-foot long, single-seat XB-1 took off at 7:28 Pacific time, ascended to 7,120 feet, and hit a top speed of 238 knots while executing a series of maneuvers to test its handling and flight-control systems before returning to the Mojave Air & Space Port. J. George Gorant, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024 The man took off on foot and ran into the woods before jumping into Lake Lanier. Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024 The officer caught up with the GTI and tried to pull it over, but the driver took off, headed north on Myers Street, police said. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024 Another unique factor was where the flights took off from. Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 Two of the people said that Saudi’s new investment push is likely to take off in the second half of 2024. Rob Copeland, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 As products containing the drug have become more popular, warnings that such products are harmful have also taken off. Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'takeoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of takeoff was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near takeoff

Cite this Entry

“Takeoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/takeoff. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

takeoff

1 of 2 noun
take·​off ˈtā-ˌkȯf How to pronounce takeoff (audio)
1
2
a
: a rise or leap from a surface in making a jump or flight in an aircraft or spacecraft
b
: an action of starting out
3
: a spot at which one takes off

take off

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)tā-ˈkȯf
1
a
: remove entry 1 sense 2
take your hat off
b
: to take away : deduct
take off 10 percent
2
: release entry 1 sense 1
take the brake off
3
: to spend (some time) away from an activity or occupation
took two weeks off in August
4
a
: to start off or away often suddenly
took off without saying goodbye
b
: to begin flight
planes taking off
c
: to develop or grow rapidly

More from Merriam-Webster on takeoff

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