often attributive
1
a
: a firework consisting of a case partly filled with a combustible composition fastened to a guiding stick and propelled through the air by the rearward discharge of the gases liberated by combustion
b
: a similar device used as an incendiary weapon or as a propelling unit (as for a lifesaving line)
2
: a jet engine that operates on the same principle as the firework rocket, consists essentially of a combustion chamber and an exhaust nozzle, carries either liquid or solid propellants which provide the fuel and oxygen needed for combustion and thus make the engine independent of the oxygen of the air, and is used especially for the propulsion of a missile (such as a bomb or shell) or a vehicle (such as an airplane)
3
: a rocket-propelled bomb, missile, projectile, or vehicle
rocketed; rocketing; rockets
: to convey or propel by means of or as if by a rocket
1
: to rise up swiftly, spectacularly, and with force
rocketed to the top of the list
2
: to travel rapidly in or as if in a rocket
Synonyms
Verb
- barrel
- belt
- blast
- blaze
- blow
- bolt
- bomb [slang]
- bowl
- breeze
- bundle
- bustle
- buzz
- cannonball
- careen
- career
- chase
- course
- crack (on)
- dash
- drive
- fly
- hare
- hasten
- hie
- highball
- hotfoot (it)
- hump
- hurl
- hurry
- hurtle
- hustle
- jet
- jump
- motor
- nip
- pelt
- race
- ram
- rip
- run
- rush
- rustle
- scoot
- scurry
- scuttle
- shoot
- speed
- step
- tear
- travel
- trot
- whirl
- whisk
- zip
- zoom
Examples of rocket in a Sentence
Verb
Sales rocketed from 1,000 units last week to 5,000 units this week.
The train rocketed through the tunnel.
The spacecraft rocketed into outer space.
Her novel rocketed to the top of the best-seller list.
Their album rocketed up the charts.
His role in the movie rocketed him to fame.
Recent Examples on the Web
Peter Kenyon, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Instead of crashing to earth, the rocket fired again and powered itself to a soft — but very hot and smoky — landing.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Iran encouraged the Shi’ite Muslim fighters of Lebanon’s Hezbollah to keep firing rockets and anti-tank shells at northern Israel since last October, compelling tens of thousands of Israelis to leave their homes and reside temporarily in hotels and communities many miles away.
—Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
Hamas brutalizes children, abuses captives, steals food, fires its rockets indiscriminately, wears no uniforms, and hides behind schools, hospitals, and mosques.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 6 Apr. 2024
SpaceX announced that the rocket will now launch tonight.
—Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
Usually taking off near sunset, the rockets leave a long, undulating trail in the sky that draws widespread attention.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
The rockets will look for changes in the upper atmosphere as the amount of incoming sunlight drops.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
The eclipse offers researchers a unique opportunity, because scientists will know exactly when and where to fire their rockets to get the best readings, NASA said.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Jack Bantock, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
The band began playing around New York City to rather small audiences, before quickly rocketing to fame with thrilling live performances and hit after hit.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
All three times, Betts converted the play with ease: Backhanding a firm bouncer from Brandon Crawford in the third, rocketing a long throw to retire Nolan Arenado in the fourth, then limiting damage in the 10th by getting at least one out at first base on a slow roller with the infield in.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Almost a year ago at CinemaCon — months before Barbie would rocket to become the highest-grossing movie of 2023 — Gosling talked about taking on the role of Ken.
—Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
At the time, both artists had rocketed to stardom with their debut albums, Furtado with Whoa Nelly!
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2024
Insurance costs sky rocketed, many small aircraft manufacturers went out of business and larger firms stopped making smaller aircraft.
—Michael Barnard, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
In July 2022, the microbe was rocketed to the International Space Station to see if astronauts could grow the protein in microgravity.
—Claire Turrell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
Baker and Stewart are former Los Angeles Dodgers teammates of Steve Garvey, one of Lee’s rivals in the Senate race who has rocketed past her in the polls since joining the contest in October.
—John Woolfolk, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Hezbollah has been firing rockets into northern Israel since the Gaza war began in October.
—Peter Kenyon, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Instead of crashing to earth, the rocket fired again and powered itself to a soft — but very hot and smoky — landing.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Iran encouraged the Shi’ite Muslim fighters of Lebanon’s Hezbollah to keep firing rockets and anti-tank shells at northern Israel since last October, compelling tens of thousands of Israelis to leave their homes and reside temporarily in hotels and communities many miles away.
—Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
Hamas brutalizes children, abuses captives, steals food, fires its rockets indiscriminately, wears no uniforms, and hides behind schools, hospitals, and mosques.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 6 Apr. 2024
SpaceX announced that the rocket will now launch tonight.
—Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
Usually taking off near sunset, the rockets leave a long, undulating trail in the sky that draws widespread attention.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
The rockets will look for changes in the upper atmosphere as the amount of incoming sunlight drops.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
The eclipse offers researchers a unique opportunity, because scientists will know exactly when and where to fire their rockets to get the best readings, NASA said.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
The triumph also rocketed him 53 places to a career-best world No. 34 ranking, but the sweetest winning perk of all was the last-minute ticket stamped to The Masters on Thursday.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
The band began playing around New York City to rather small audiences, before quickly rocketing to fame with thrilling live performances and hit after hit.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
All three times, Betts converted the play with ease: Backhanding a firm bouncer from Brandon Crawford in the third, rocketing a long throw to retire Nolan Arenado in the fourth, then limiting damage in the 10th by getting at least one out at first base on a slow roller with the infield in.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Almost a year ago at CinemaCon — months before Barbie would rocket to become the highest-grossing movie of 2023 — Gosling talked about taking on the role of Ken.
—Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
At the time, both artists had rocketed to stardom with their debut albums, Furtado with Whoa Nelly!
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2024
Insurance costs sky rocketed, many small aircraft manufacturers went out of business and larger firms stopped making smaller aircraft.
—Michael Barnard, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
In July 2022, the microbe was rocketed to the International Space Station to see if astronauts could grow the protein in microgravity.
—Claire Turrell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
Baker and Stewart are former Los Angeles Dodgers teammates of Steve Garvey, one of Lee’s rivals in the Senate race who has rocketed past her in the polls since joining the contest in October.
—John Woolfolk, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rocket.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rocket
Cite this Entry
“Rocket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rocket. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rocket
1 of 2 noun
rock·et
ˈräk-ət 
1
: a firework that is driven through the air by the gases produced by a burning substance
2
: a jet engine that operates like a firework rocket but carries its own oxygen for burning the fuel and is therefore able to run without the oxygen of the air
3
: an object (as a missile) that is driven by a rocket
rocket
2 of 2 verb1
: to transport by a rocket
rocket a satellite into orbit
2
: to rise swiftly
a singer who rocketed to stardom
3
: to travel rapidly in or as if in a rocket
Etymology
Noun
from Italian rocchetta, literally "a small stick or rod on which wool is held for spinning," from rocca "distaff"; probably so called because of its shape
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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