: a vertical takeoff by an aircraft or a rocket vehicle or missile
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
The first-stage booster made a successful 21st liftoff, but was expended to get the satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit.
—
Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
June 1, 2024 Officials scrub Starliner's launch just a few minutes before liftoff due to a computer ground launch sequencer not loading properly.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2025
And don't miss our launch coverage with more photos and video from last night's liftoff.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2025
The astronauts will be aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule launching atop a Falcon 9 rocket, which will propel the spacecraft into orbit before separating.
NASA to provide livestream of liftoff: How to watch
NASA will provide live coverage of the Crew-10 launch.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
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Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
June 1, 2024 Officials scrub Starliner's launch just a few minutes before liftoff due to a computer ground launch sequencer not loading properly.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2025
And don't miss our launch coverage with more photos and video from last night's liftoff.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2025
The astronauts will be aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule launching atop a Falcon 9 rocket, which will propel the spacecraft into orbit before separating.
NASA to provide livestream of liftoff: How to watch
NASA will provide live coverage of the Crew-10 launch.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liftoff
Cite this Entry
“Liftoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liftoff. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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liftoff
noun
lift·off
ˈlif-ˌtȯf 
: a vertical takeoff (as by a rocket)
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