: a system of transporting cargo or passengers by aircraft often to or from an otherwise inaccessible area
airlift
transitive verb
Examples of airlift in a Sentence
an emergency airlift to deliver supplies to the famine victims
Recent Examples on the Web
Fire officials communicated with Kemp over the phone and used drones to evaluate the scene and later determined that a helicopter airlift would be required.
Video shared by the Orange County Fire Authority captured a rescuer safely hoist Kemp away from the cliff at the Crescent Bay Beach.
—
Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
To spare Habiba a long and perilous journey, Jordan had requested an airlift by its military from the Israel-Gaza border, but Israel denied that request, according to a senior Jordanian official, who told CNN Israeli authorities would only approve a land movement.
—Abeer Salman, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025
Jordanian aid officials say airlifts can get medicine into Gaza more reliably and faster than trucks.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Feb. 2025
The move backfired: a massive Anglo-American airlift foiled the blockade and spurred Western leaders to forge a military alliance to combat the Soviet threat, resulting in the creation of NATO in April 1949.
—James Hershberg, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for airlift
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Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
To spare Habiba a long and perilous journey, Jordan had requested an airlift by its military from the Israel-Gaza border, but Israel denied that request, according to a senior Jordanian official, who told CNN Israeli authorities would only approve a land movement.
—Abeer Salman, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025
Jordanian aid officials say airlifts can get medicine into Gaza more reliably and faster than trucks.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Feb. 2025
The move backfired: a massive Anglo-American airlift foiled the blockade and spurred Western leaders to forge a military alliance to combat the Soviet threat, resulting in the creation of NATO in April 1949.
—James Hershberg, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for airlift
Cite this Entry
“Airlift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airlift. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
airlift
noun
air·lift
ˈa(ə)r-ˌlift 
ˈe(ə)r-
: a system of transporting cargo or passengers by aircraft to or from an area otherwise impossible to reach
airlift
verb
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