airborne

adjective

air·​borne ˈer-ˌbȯrn How to pronounce airborne (audio)
1
: done or being in the air : being off the ground: such as
a
: carried through the air (as by an aircraft)
b
: supported especially by aerodynamic forces or propelled through the air by force
a plane becoming airborne
c
: transported or carried by the air
airborne allergens
2
: trained for deployment by air and especially by parachute
airborne troops

Examples of airborne in a Sentence

Once the plane was airborne I loosened my seat belt. Thousands of airborne troops parachuted behind enemy lines.
Recent Examples on the Web According to the brand, the purifier can snatch up to 99.97 percent of airborne germs and allergens from the air, including dust, pet dander, pollen, and smoke. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024 Pollen is a common airborne allergen known to cause uncomfortable symptoms in many people, says the CDC. The Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2024 After almost two weeks of waiting, the Friendship was airborne. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024 Once the chopper was airborne, Ms. Dugdale and IRA foot soldier Eddie Gallagher demanded that the pilot land. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Max since the issue on an airborne Alaska Airlines jet earlier this year left the planemaker in crisis. Mary Schlangenstein, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 Against a backdrop of skyscrapers and super yachts, the airborne athletes competed in the inaugural Jet Suit Race Series, an event organized by the Dubai Sports Council and Gravity Industries, the manufacturers of the jet suit. Rebecca Cairns, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Once airborne, the rotors can be repositioned so that the Osprey flies like a propeller plane. Laura Strickler, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 To prevent further infections of the airborne disease, Licata said the school district deep cleaned and changed the air filters at the school campus and the buses in which the students traveled. Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airborne.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of airborne was in 1637

Dictionary Entries Near airborne

Cite this Entry

“Airborne.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airborne. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

airborne

adjective
air·​borne ˈa(ə)r-ˌbōrn How to pronounce airborne (audio)
-ˌbȯrn,
ˈe(ə)r-
: supported or transported by air
airborne troops

Medical Definition

airborne

adjective
air·​borne -ˌbōrn How to pronounce airborne (audio)
: carried or transported by the air
airborne allergens
airborne bacteria

More from Merriam-Webster on airborne

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