takeoff
1 of 2noun
take·off ˈtāk-ˌȯf 
1
a
: a rise or leap from a surface in making a jump or flight or an ascent in an aircraft or in the launching of a rocket
b
: an action of starting out
c
: a rapid rise in activity, growth, or popularity
an economic takeoff
2
: an imitation especially in the way of caricature
3
a
: a spot at which one takes off
b
: a starting point : point of departure
4
: an action of removing something
5
: a mechanism for transmission of the power of an engine or vehicle to operate some other mechanism
take off
2 of 2verb
took off; taken off; taking off; takes off
transitive verb
1
: remove
take your shoes off
2
a
: to take or allow as a discount : deduct
took 10 percent off
b
: to spend (a period of time) away from a usual occupation or activity
took two weeks off
c
: release
take the brake off
d
: discontinue, withdraw
took off the morning train
3
slang : rob
intransitive verb
1
a
: to start off or away often suddenly : set out, depart
took off for her trip
b
: to leave the surface : begin flight
c
: to spring into wide use or popularity
d(1)
: to branch off (as from a main stream or stem)
(2)
: to take a point of origin
e
: to begin a leap or spring
f
: to embark on rapid activity, development, or growth
2
: to take away : detract
Synonyms
Noun
- blastoff
- launch
- liftoff
Verb
- bail
- bail out
- begone
- book [slang]
- bug off
- bug out
- bugger off [British slang]
- buzz (off)
- clear off [chiefly British]
- clear out
- cut out
- depart
- dig out
- exit
- get
- get off
- go
- go off
- move
- pack (up or off)
- part
- peel off
- pike (out or off)
- pull out
- push off
- push on
- quit
- run along
- sally (forth)
- scarper [British]
- shove (off)
- step (along)
- vamoose
- walk out
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Please remain seated during takeoff. Air Force One, you're ready for takeoff. All the high jumpers had flawless takeoffs. Verb I can only stay for a few minutes, and then I'll need to take off again. take off your coat and stay awhile
Recent Examples on the Web
Loren Grush, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2022 The nurse, Tamara Panzino, was on Spirit Airlines Flight 1691 Thursday night when baby Anjelé suffered a medical emergency about 30 minutes after takeoff, according to Fox affiliate WOFL of Orlando. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2022 The Miracle on The Hudson, occurred at this exact spot, a LaGuardia Takeoff, striking a flock of Canadian geese, a loud bang heard after takeoff. Cantor Glenn Sherman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2022 Assuming an on-time launch, the SLS rocket's upper stage will boost the Orion capsule out of Earth orbit about an hour-a-half after takeoff, sending it on a trajectory to loop around the moon and into a distant orbit. William Harwood, CBS News, 2 Sep. 2022 After takeoff, the private, Bohdan Mazhulenko, who goes by the nickname Raccoon, sits casually on the rim of a trench, as green fields pocked with artillery craters scroll by on his tablet. Andrew E. Kramer, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2022 While the reusable booster heads back to landing on a nearby pad, the crew capsule continues upward on an unpowered, ballistic trajectory, reaching a maximum altitude of just above 65 miles three-and-a-half minutes after takeoff. William Harwood, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2022 After takeoff, flight WM441 flies in a straight line towards Saba, the island's silhouette visible on the horizon just 24 miles away. Nicola Chilton, CNN, 8 July 2022 The fracas began shortly after takeoff on an American Airlines flight from Seattle, Washington, to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 9. Paul Best, Fox News, 1 July 2022 Amrith Ramkumar, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Now, professionals in the U.S., including some in Arizona, are advocating for the practice to take off here. Melina Walling, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2022 However, with the soaring temperatures of climate change hitting marine life the hardest, there’s the question of what will happen to costs if batteries made from chitosan take off. Miriam Fauzia, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2022 The paddling course will begin shortly after the hikers and bikers take off. The Courier-Journal, 31 Aug. 2022 Ruben Morris, founder and superintendent of Alabama Aerospace & Aviation High School in Bessemer, is ready for his students to take off. The Birmingham Times, al, 20 Aug. 2022 There was the time in May when the Cardinals were playing the San Francisco Giants and Molina picked up how his opponent motioned for the runner on first base to take off as the pitch was delivered. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 During our taxi to take off from LAX to Fiji, someone had a heart attack, and the flight attendants were frantically looking for a doctor. Janay Kingsberry, Washington Post, 2 July 2022 But the reality of the ongoing rate-tightening cycle to address 40-year highs in inflation sunk in a day later to take off the sugar high. Hank Tucker, Forbes, 5 May 2022 See More
Noun
Just over a minute after takeoff, the New Shepard rocket appeared to suffer an engine problem and veer off course, prompting the emergency abort system to kick in. Loren Grush, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2022 The nurse, Tamara Panzino, was on Spirit Airlines Flight 1691 Thursday night when baby Anjelé suffered a medical emergency about 30 minutes after takeoff, according to Fox affiliate WOFL of Orlando. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2022 The Miracle on The Hudson, occurred at this exact spot, a LaGuardia Takeoff, striking a flock of Canadian geese, a loud bang heard after takeoff. Cantor Glenn Sherman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2022 Assuming an on-time launch, the SLS rocket's upper stage will boost the Orion capsule out of Earth orbit about an hour-a-half after takeoff, sending it on a trajectory to loop around the moon and into a distant orbit. William Harwood, CBS News, 2 Sep. 2022 After takeoff, the private, Bohdan Mazhulenko, who goes by the nickname Raccoon, sits casually on the rim of a trench, as green fields pocked with artillery craters scroll by on his tablet. Andrew E. Kramer, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2022 While the reusable booster heads back to landing on a nearby pad, the crew capsule continues upward on an unpowered, ballistic trajectory, reaching a maximum altitude of just above 65 miles three-and-a-half minutes after takeoff. William Harwood, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2022 After takeoff, flight WM441 flies in a straight line towards Saba, the island's silhouette visible on the horizon just 24 miles away. Nicola Chilton, CNN, 8 July 2022 The fracas began shortly after takeoff on an American Airlines flight from Seattle, Washington, to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 9. Paul Best, Fox News, 1 July 2022 Verb
Smaller batteries from laptops and other devices aren’t enough input material for the industry to truly take off, analysts say. Amrith Ramkumar, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Now, professionals in the U.S., including some in Arizona, are advocating for the practice to take off here. Melina Walling, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2022 However, with the soaring temperatures of climate change hitting marine life the hardest, there’s the question of what will happen to costs if batteries made from chitosan take off. Miriam Fauzia, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2022 The paddling course will begin shortly after the hikers and bikers take off. The Courier-Journal, 31 Aug. 2022 Ruben Morris, founder and superintendent of Alabama Aerospace & Aviation High School in Bessemer, is ready for his students to take off. The Birmingham Times, al, 20 Aug. 2022 There was the time in May when the Cardinals were playing the San Francisco Giants and Molina picked up how his opponent motioned for the runner on first base to take off as the pitch was delivered. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 During our taxi to take off from LAX to Fiji, someone had a heart attack, and the flight attendants were frantically looking for a doctor. Janay Kingsberry, Washington Post, 2 July 2022 But the reality of the ongoing rate-tightening cycle to address 40-year highs in inflation sunk in a day later to take off the sugar high. Hank Tucker, Forbes, 5 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1833, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
takeoff
noun
take·off ˈtāk-ˌȯf
1
: an act or instance of leaving the ground (as by an airplane)
2
: an imitation especially to mock the original
3
: a spot at which something leaves the ground
took off
verb
1
as in departed
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
- departed
- exited
- moved
- got off
- got
- went
- went off
- ran along
- pushed off
- pulled out
- dug out
- took a hike
- walked out
- took a powder
- started
- pushed on
- peeled off
- cut out
- cleared off
- fled
- escaped
- cleared out
- evacuated
- parted
- took a walk
- bugged out
- quit
- buggered off
- bailed out
- flew
- pulled stakes
- bailed
- set out
- bugged off
- got out
- hit the road
- beat it
- pulled up stakes
- shoved (off)
- stepped (along)
- retired
- went out
- quitted
- booked
- vamoosed
- struck out
- withdrew
- scarpered
- buzzed (off)
- sallied (forth)
- ran away
- emigrated
- retreated
- packed (up or off)
- skipped
- stepped out
- piked (out or off)
- deserted
- removed
- lit
- abandoned
- mizzled
- absconded
- lighted out
- scrammed
- vacated
- decamped
- forsook
- scatted
- adjourned
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- came
- arrived
- turned up
- remained
- stayed
- settled
- closed
- showed up
- approached
- reached
- lodged
- hit
- neared
- dwelt
- abode
- abided
- landed
- dwelled
- tarried
2
as in removed
to rid oneself of (a garment) take off your coat and stay awhile Synonyms & Similar Words
- removed
- put off
- shrugged off
- peeled (off)
- doffed
- doused
- shed
- stripped
- husked
- kicked (off)
- undressed
- disrobed
- stript
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- threw (on)
- slipped (into)
- put on
- donned
- wore
- suited
- clad
- dressed
- clothed
- rigged
- arrayed
- bedecked
- attired
- garbed
- robed
- apparelled
- appareled
3
as in subtracted
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
- subtracted
- reduced
- deducted
- knocked off
- cut down
- knocked down
- abated
- cut back
- decreased
- discounted
- diminished
- shortened
- lessened
- dwindled
- lowered
- clipped
- downsized
- truncated
- pared
- abridged
- cropped
- abbreviated
- curtailed
- slashed
- docked
- pruned
- cut
- trimmed
- whittled
- retrenched
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tacked (on)
- added
- appended
- enhanced
- adjoined
- annexed
- complemented
- increased
- supplemented
- intensified
- augmented
- expanded
- heightened
- enlarged
- raised
- magnified
- amplified
- multiplied
- boosted
- escalated
- compounded
- beefed (up)
- aggrandized
4
as in robbed
slang to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully a gangbanger who decided to take off some fast-food joint Synonyms & Similar Words
- robbed
- ripped off
- knocked over
- stole (from)
- knocked off
- burglarized
- burgled
- sacked
- stuck up
- broke in
- looted
- stripped
- ransacked
- plundered
- stuck
- plucked
- rifled
- cheated
- ravished
- despoiled
- exploited
- pillaged
- spoiled
- defrauded
- swindled
- hustled
- shortchanged
- skinned
- squeezed
- mulcted
- chiseled
- stung
- held up
- fleeced
- cozened
- spoilt
- rooked
- bled
- mugged
- stript
- rolled
- chiselled
- mountain grape
- mountain green
- conference calls
- conferenced
- conferences
- conferencier
- conferencing
- conferencings
- conferential
- conferest
- conferment
- conferments
- conferrable
- conferral
- conferrals
- conferred
- conferred (on)
- conferred on
- conferrees
- conferrence
- conferrences
- conferrer
- conferrers
- conferrest
- conferring