take flight
idiom
1
: to leave or run away from danger
Fearing arrest, they took flight and hid in the mountains.
2
US
: to begin flying
The bird took flight when we tried to approach it.
3
US
: to begin a period of rapid activity, development, or growth
The idea really took flight and soon it seemed everyone was copying it.
Examples of take flight in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Later tonight, Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Zion Williamson take flight.
—
Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Recovery of a raptor:Condors take flight near Grand Canyon, but lead ammo could ground the species
Thanks for reading and for subscribing to AZ Climate, the Arizona Republic's weekly environment newsletter.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 28 Oct. 2024
In a behavior known as ballooning, spiders take flight by extending a silk thread to catch charges in the sky, sometimes traveling hundreds of kilometers with the wind.
—Max G. Levy, WIRED, 27 Oct. 2024
The mobile feather embraces the wrist in an openwork construction that allows the bird to spread its wings and take flight.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for take flight 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Recovery of a raptor:Condors take flight near Grand Canyon, but lead ammo could ground the species
Thanks for reading and for subscribing to AZ Climate, the Arizona Republic's weekly environment newsletter.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 28 Oct. 2024
In a behavior known as ballooning, spiders take flight by extending a silk thread to catch charges in the sky, sometimes traveling hundreds of kilometers with the wind.
—Max G. Levy, WIRED, 27 Oct. 2024
The mobile feather embraces the wrist in an openwork construction that allows the bird to spread its wings and take flight.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for take flight
Dictionary Entries Near take flight
Cite this Entry
“Take flight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20flight. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share