1
as in departing
to leave a place often for another
I can only stay for a few minutes, and then I'll need to take off again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in removing
to rid oneself of (a garment)
take off your coat and stay awhile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in subtracting
to take away (an amount or number) from a total
the store will take an additional 20% off if you bring in this coupon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in robbing
slang
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
a gangbanger who decided to take off some fast-food joint
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 taking off
As to why the buildout is taking off, Thill said that, given today’s demand for AI data centers, the only concern among tech firms is the risk of not doing enough.
—
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Mourinho had already made all of his substitutions, including taking off his entire front four, trying to see out a win.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Nedas is taking off at 20 points a game, including a 36-point effort Tuesday against Lincoln-Way Central.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
But once inside, as the crackling fire quickly warms you up, there’s no better feeling after hours on the trail than dropping your backpack on the floor, taking off your boots and settling in for a few days of peaceful escape.
—The Denver Post, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The plane crashed near Rio Linda Boulevard and Claire Avenue in North Sacramento’s Robla neighborhood shortly after taking off from Rio Linda Airport.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Close your eyes and picture taking off your shoes and socks on a warm, spring day.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
At least seven people are dead and 11 injured after a UPS plane crashed after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) on Tuesday evening.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
What to know As Wallace’s career was taking off, so was the oil boom.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Mourinho had already made all of his substitutions, including taking off his entire front four, trying to see out a win.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Nedas is taking off at 20 points a game, including a 36-point effort Tuesday against Lincoln-Way Central.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
But once inside, as the crackling fire quickly warms you up, there’s no better feeling after hours on the trail than dropping your backpack on the floor, taking off your boots and settling in for a few days of peaceful escape.
—The Denver Post, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The plane crashed near Rio Linda Boulevard and Claire Avenue in North Sacramento’s Robla neighborhood shortly after taking off from Rio Linda Airport.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Close your eyes and picture taking off your shoes and socks on a warm, spring day.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
At least seven people are dead and 11 injured after a UPS plane crashed after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) on Tuesday evening.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
What to know As Wallace’s career was taking off, so was the oil boom.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking off
Verb
-
One glaring problem is found in Olde Town Arvada, where connecting from the light rail to departing bus service in a timely manner is impossible.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Under normal procedures, departing astronauts don't leave the space station until a few days after their replacements arrive.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Repairs to the balcony included removing and replacing rotten support beams, according to an invoice from Ameridian.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Feb. 2026
-
But research from both academics and conservative groups suggests removing undocumented immigrants from the census would shift only a handful of seats — not the sweeping advantage critics claim.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Heating Degree Days are calculated by taking the day's high temperature and adding it to the day's low temperature, then dividing by 2 and subtracting that value from 65.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Philadelphia was in a bit of a pickle in figuring out how to get under the luxury tax at next week’s trade deadline without subtracting key players.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Two men have been accused of robbing a supermarket in Bridgeport at knifepoint on Thursday before leading police on a pursuit that ended in a crash in Woodbridge.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
-
San Antonio Crime Stoppers is seeking the public’s help to identify two suspects accused of robbing a JCPenney store at Ingram Park Mall in December.—
Raul Trey Lopez,
San Antonio Express-News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Canadian team hugged coach Scott Moir after exiting the ice, the legendary Olympian who holds three gold and two silver medals in ice dance for Canada.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Here was RussField exiting a black limo at the Ambassador Hotel, in a gown and tux, photographers clamoring for a shot.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than deducting expenses, the 70% split remaining with the league would be used to cover costs.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
In addition, Dawson evaded paying state taxes and payroll taxes by failing to file the necessary tax returns, while deducting payroll taxes from the teachers’ paychecks and using those deductions for himself, the criminal complaint alleges.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mostly, however, Gee’s sophisticated, stealthily moving film folds any bursts of emotion into its exquisitely dark shadows, letting Evans’ limpid but heartsore music do most of the weeping.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Juliette Binoche has spent four decades embodying the restless intelligence of French and European cinema, moving effortlessly between auteurs and emotional registers.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Among life’s great procrastinations, putting off making a will seems to top insignificant things like delaying cleaning the house or starting a homework assignment.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Mahomes on Wednesday accidentally got Chiefs fans excited about Kelce putting off retirement and returning for one more season.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20off. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
