liftoff

noun

lift·​off ˈlift-ˌȯf How to pronounce liftoff (audio)
: a vertical takeoff by an aircraft or a rocket vehicle or missile

Examples of liftoff in a Sentence

a series of successful liftoffs Thousand of spectators gathered to watch the liftoff of the space shuttle.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Problems began shortly thereafter, when SpaceX lost touch with Starship roughly nine minutes after liftoff. Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 17 Jan. 2025 New Glenn’s liftoff was originally set for Friday after a long slog of development, then delayed for unfriendly weather, then scrubbed early Monday morning after frost developed in a purge line. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 16 Jan. 2025 The company will webcast today's launch live via X, beginning about 10 minutes before liftoff. Mike Wall, Space.com, 14 Jan. 2025 Resilience is aiming to land on the moon roughly four to five months after liftoff, according to Jumpei Nozaki, Ispace’s chief financial officer. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for liftoff 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of liftoff was circa 1956

Dictionary Entries Near liftoff

Cite this Entry

“Liftoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liftoff. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

liftoff

noun
lift·​off ˈlif-ˌtȯf How to pronounce liftoff (audio)
: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)

More from Merriam-Webster on liftoff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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