para·chute
ˈper-ə-ˌshüt 
ˈpa-rə-
1
: a device for slowing the descent of a person or object through the air that consists of a fabric canopy beneath which the person or object is suspended
2
: patagium
3
: a device or structure suggestive of a parachute in form, use, or operation
parachuted; parachuting
: to convey by means of a parachute
: to descend by means of a parachute
Examples of parachute in a Sentence
Noun
The pilot was wearing a parachute.
The supplies were dropped by parachute.
Verb
The soldiers parachuted in and quickly hid their gear.
New troops parachuted into enemy territory.
We will parachute supplies in after you arrive.
New troops were parachuted into enemy territory.
Recent Examples on the Web
Beren Cross, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
The women on board could soon be heard whooping in joy as three massive parachutes deployed after about nine minutes into the flight and the capsule made a soft landing two minutes later in the desert, sending up plumes of dust.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2025
After a nine-month-long test flight saga, their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico in the early evening, just hours after departing the International Space Station.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parachute
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Noun
Based on the current TV cycle, which will go up from next term, United would get £110m in their first year, £48m from the first parachute payment and then £39m from the second.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
The women on board could soon be heard whooping in joy as three massive parachutes deployed after about nine minutes into the flight and the capsule made a soft landing two minutes later in the desert, sending up plumes of dust.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
The New Shepard booster is expected to return to Earth for a vertical landing on a pad near its launch site in West Texas about 7.5 minutes after liftoff, while the capsule and crew will parachute down for a soft landing a few minutes later.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2025
After a nine-month-long test flight saga, their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico in the early evening, just hours after departing the International Space Station.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parachute
Cite this Entry
“Parachute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parachute. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
parachute
1 of 2 noun
para·chute
ˈpar-ə-ˌshüt
1
: a folding umbrella-shaped device of light fabric used especially for making a safe jump from an aircraft
2
: something (as the bunch of hairs on a dandelion seed) that is like a parachute in form, use, or operation
parachute
2 of 2 verb
parachuted; parachuting
: to transport or come down by means of a parachute
parachutist
noun
-ˌshüt-əst
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