take off 1 of 2

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takeoff

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noun

1
as in launch
a rising from a surface at the start of a flight (as of a rocket) make sure your tray table is safely put away during takeoff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in parody
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect a sitcom that's a takeoff of an old TV show from the 1960s

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of take off
Verb
Ian Happ took off for home and got caught in a rundown himself when the Sox threw to the plate. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025 While the Palisades nuclear plant closed in 2022, an effort to reopen the plant took off not long after. Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
Noun
Minutes after takeoff Friday, a Southwest flight leaving Burbank, California, rapidly descended because another aircraft was in the area, injuring two flight attendants and frightening passengers, according to officials and those on board. Jay Blackman, NBC news, 25 July 2025 In a surprising and inexplicable way, as takeoffs and landings ceased, the feverish activity that airport grass hides under its seemingly peaceful surface came to a screeching halt. Fabio Morábito, New Yorker, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for take off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take off
Verb
  • Alexander Isak has made clear his desire to depart St James’ Park this summer with Liverpool reportedly interested in signing the Swedish striker.
    Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
  • Mike Christensen, an airport spokesman for Hollywood Burbank, said that neither the control tower nor the operations department, which tracks planes departing and arriving, have any record of the Southwest flight plunging in their airspace.
    Rio Yamat, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • El Salvador’s legislature approved constitutional amendments removing term limits, potentially allowing its President Nayib Bukele to rule for life.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • This article was updated with additional context and to remove a reference of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • As a result, those foreign shipments added 5.2 percentage points to growth after subtracting a whopping 4.7 points in the January-March period.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 30 July 2025
  • Their absence could subtract from longer-term growth, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
    Claudia Sahm, Mercury News, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • Access to justice too (something often underrated), where you can’t be killed or robbed with impunity, and where you won’t be arbitrarily deprived of your liberty or your freedom of speech by a despotic government.
    Simon Boas July 23, Literary Hub, 23 July 2025
  • Check out this song parody from last night's show: Mike Johnson Delays House Epstein Vote Until September Julio González Jr., released last week from the Terrorism Confinement Center, said he was beaten, robbed of thousands of dollars and denied a lawyer.
    Bluesky Social, Bluesky Social, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • Gilmour Space sounded an optimistic note after the launch as well.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 30 July 2025
  • Ever since the launch of the first fragrance in 1982, Biagiotti has had a successful perfume business, including the Roma and the Forever lines, among others, and licensed to Angelini Group in 2014 after 20 years with Procter & Gamble.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Fittingly, Yankovic and Miranda pulled together a parody of the viral Coldplay Cheating Camera with some help from Colbert’s late-night peers.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2025
  • Colbert soon developed a character for himself, a parody of conservative political pundits loosely based on Bill O'Reilly, then on Fox News.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Verb
  • The implant was allegedly moved when Niven, 34, elbowed Nikki mid-fight.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Mary, a young scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey, had resigned and moved across the country to start a job in the private sector.
    E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • And yet, not wanting to dampen the mood now that Aidan is finally in New York for an extended period of time, Carrie puts off confronting this truth.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 25 July 2025
  • Despite relatively low unemployment, hiring data indicates that younger, entry-level workers have been increasingly struggling to get their foot in the door as employers put off hiring plans amid wider economic uncertainty and some industries, like government and tech, having slashed workers.
    Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 16 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Take off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take%20off. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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