liftoff

noun

lift·​off ˈlift-ˌȯf 

: a vertical takeoff by an aircraft or a rocket vehicle or missile

Synonyms

• blastoff
• launch
• takeoff

Examples of liftoff in a Sentence

a series of successful liftoffs

Thousand of spectators gathered to watch the liftoff of the space shuttle.

Recent Examples on the Web

After delaying the launch of these missions three times — they were originally slated to take to the skies on Feb. 27 — the space agency has postponed liftoff once again for SPHEREx and PUNCH. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2025

How to watch SpaceX livestream SpaceX will host a livestream of the flight test that will begin about 40 minutes before liftoff. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025

Those are now in hand, clearing the last regulatory hurdle before liftoff. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2025

Boeing is the prime contractor on the SLS rocket’s core stage, which when combined with solid rocket boosters from Northrop Grumman provide the rocket with 8.8. million pounds of thrust at liftoff, making it for now the most powerful rocket ever to send something into orbit. —Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for liftoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff
• runoff

Kids Definition

liftoff

noun

lift·​off ˈlif-ˌtȯf 

: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)