escape velocity
noun
: the minimum velocity that a moving body (such as a rocket) must have to escape from the gravitational field of a celestial body (such as the earth) and move outward into space
Examples of escape velocity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And now, momentum has finally reached escape velocity.
—
Jordan P. Kelley, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
While fuel-efficient and technologically feasible, this type of engine cannot achieve escape velocity from the Solar System, but remains a promising method for interplanetary missions.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie doesn’t achieve escape velocity without Teyana Taylor.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Nature never evolved a way for living things to reach escape velocity — 8 to 11 kilometers per second — because that’s not something a biological organism can do on its own.
—Big Think, 12 Nov. 2025
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Jordan P. Kelley, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
While fuel-efficient and technologically feasible, this type of engine cannot achieve escape velocity from the Solar System, but remains a promising method for interplanetary missions.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie doesn’t achieve escape velocity without Teyana Taylor.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Nature never evolved a way for living things to reach escape velocity — 8 to 11 kilometers per second — because that’s not something a biological organism can do on its own.
—Big Think, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escape velocity
Cite this Entry
“Escape velocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escape%20velocity. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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