touch·down
ˈtəch-ˌdau̇n 
1
: the act of touching a football to the ground behind an opponent's goal
specifically
: the act of scoring six points in American football by being lawfully in possession of the ball on, above, or behind an opponent's goal line when the ball is declared dead
2
: the act or moment of touching down (as with an airplane or spacecraft)
touched down; touching down; touches down
: to reach the ground : land
: to place (the ball in rugby) by hand on the ground on or over an opponent's goal line in scoring a try or behind one's own goal line as a defensive measure
Examples of touchdown in a Sentence
Noun
What was the plane's speed at touchdown?
Verb
the plane will touch down in about 30 minutes
Recent Examples on the Web
Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Keith promptly capped Northwood’s first three possessions of the second half with touchdown passes.
—Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
Janine Henni, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024
So the dog drinks and drinks, ignoring the horse approaching her and the sound of another airplane, this one pulling up to a gate, having touched down in the city where Brian’s mother was born.
—Paul Yoon, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touchdown 
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Noun
On his touchdown: My only responsibility on that play was to get covered by the safety so Christian scored a touchdown.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Keith promptly capped Northwood’s first three possessions of the second half with touchdown passes.
—Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
Verb
King Charles and Queen Camilla have touched down in Samoa as their royal tour continues.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024
So the dog drinks and drinks, ignoring the horse approaching her and the sound of another airplane, this one pulling up to a gate, having touched down in the city where Brian’s mother was born.
—Paul Yoon, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touchdown
Dictionary Entries Near touchdown
Cite this Entry
“Touchdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchdown. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
touchdown
1 of 2 noun
touch·down
ˈtəch-ˌdau̇n
1
: the act of touching a football to the ground behind an opponent's goal
2
: the act of scoring six points in American football by carrying the ball over the opponent's goal line
3
: the act or moment of touching down (as with an airplane or spacecraft)
touch down
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)təch-ˈdau̇n
: to reach the ground : land
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