: 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
Super Heavy alone is powered by 33 of SpaceX’s Raptor engines that give the initial burst of thrust at liftoff.
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Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
How to watch SpaceX Starlink launch livestream As with most SpaceX missions, the launch will be available to stream on the company's website and its new X TV mobile app, beginning about 10 minutes before liftoff.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Today's launch was the 118th Falcon 9 liftoff of 2025.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The adjustable sweep amplitude, up to 25 degrees, gives the robot the ability to fine-tune its aerodynamic center relative to its body, improving control during liftoff.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
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Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
How to watch SpaceX Starlink launch livestream As with most SpaceX missions, the launch will be available to stream on the company's website and its new X TV mobile app, beginning about 10 minutes before liftoff.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Today's launch was the 118th Falcon 9 liftoff of 2025.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The adjustable sweep amplitude, up to 25 degrees, gives the robot the ability to fine-tune its aerodynamic center relative to its body, improving control during liftoff.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
Cite this Entry
“Liftoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liftoff. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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liftoff
noun
lift·off
ˈlif-ˌtȯf 
: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)
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