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
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Recent Examples of taking off
Aurigny also says demand has soured in recent months, falling by 13 percent for flights taking off in May.
—
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
Those who fly the small, lightweight aircraft of different stripes were restricted for nearly four years from accessing the airport by ground and taking off in their ultralights.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Alex Tafoya was a much easier interview, even taking off his Ghost Rider flaming skull headpiece to talk.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
The fatal accident occurred on Monday when a Colombian Aerospace Force C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, a town in the Colombian Amazon.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
As Kasevich rolled into second base with his first double on Friday, the infielder unveiled a calm smile while taking off his batting gloves.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Later in the video, Joseph put his socks back on after taking off his shoes and socks, so an officer could check his feet.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Garcia, the former Democratic congressman, said Obama’s legacy in Cuba includes changes that paved the way for the current moment, like giving Cubans the ability to visit family back on the island and taking off caps on sending money back, creating investment on the island.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
If a plane waits too long before taking off, ice can accumulate again, disrupting airflow and causing problems during the flight.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
Those who fly the small, lightweight aircraft of different stripes were restricted for nearly four years from accessing the airport by ground and taking off in their ultralights.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Alex Tafoya was a much easier interview, even taking off his Ghost Rider flaming skull headpiece to talk.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
The fatal accident occurred on Monday when a Colombian Aerospace Force C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, a town in the Colombian Amazon.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
As Kasevich rolled into second base with his first double on Friday, the infielder unveiled a calm smile while taking off his batting gloves.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Later in the video, Joseph put his socks back on after taking off his shoes and socks, so an officer could check his feet.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Garcia, the former Democratic congressman, said Obama’s legacy in Cuba includes changes that paved the way for the current moment, like giving Cubans the ability to visit family back on the island and taking off caps on sending money back, creating investment on the island.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
If a plane waits too long before taking off, ice can accumulate again, disrupting airflow and causing problems during the flight.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking off
Verb
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Matts is departing the company, a Hallmark spokesperson tells The Hollywood Reporter.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Tickets for flights departing later in April were up 24%, to $286, for the airline.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The president himself chose not to name a new full-time national security adviser after removing Mike Waltz, who had included a journalist in supposedly secure communications regarding military action.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Redick had said that the team considered removing Doncic, who suffered his hamstring strain in the third quarter against Oklahoma City, and Reaves at halftime.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Willis represents a first move of building, not subtracting.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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This chicken is a great recipe to customize to your preferences, adding and subtracting fresh veggies to suit your taste.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The series, which stars and is executive produced by Hamm, follows his character, a divorced and jobless hedge fund manager who turns to robbing his wealthy neighbors in an affluent suburb.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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As that was happening, prosecutors say the remaining suspects drew firearms and began robbing others in the studio.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
McBride, making a hustle play midway through the third quarter of Tuesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, grabbed at the same area that required surgery just two months ago before exiting the game for good.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
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After swinging around the far side of the moon and exiting the lunar sphere of influence, three small burns will ensure Orion is on the right course for splashdown, with the last one occurring on the 10th day of the flight.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The union has proposed sharing the revenue without deducting expenses to secure a larger share of gross revenue for the players.—
Chantel Jennings,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
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Justice Department prosecutors also accused him of diverting money from his law firm to pay gambling debts and falsely deducting gambling debts as business expenses.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The average retirement age declined steadily in America for decades until around 1990, when the average started moving up again.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the center of town, Perryville House—with its garden-facing suites and Georgian architecture—makes a compelling case for putting off your departure.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
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Americans are also making other sacrifices, such as delaying a job change, putting off buying a new home or postponing growing their family.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20off. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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