1
as in to depart
to leave a place often for another
I can only stay for a few minutes, and then I'll need to take off again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remove
to rid oneself of (a garment)
take off your coat and stay awhile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to subtract
to take away (an amount or number) from a total
the store will take an additional 20% off if you bring in this coupon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to rob
slang
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
a gangbanger who decided to take off some fast-food joint
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in parody
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
a sitcom that's a takeoff of an old TV show from the 1960s
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of take off
Nina Agrawal, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
On a recent weekday morning, workers were getting coffee at the Wawa on Amelia Earhart Boulevard, while, overhead, an F-16C from the New Jersey Air National Guard took off seaward.
—Robert Sullivan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
This year, on January 31, a little further west on Cottman, a Learjet 55 medevac flight crashed one minute after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take off
Verb
The researchers found a significant amount of polyethylene, for example, the dominant type of plastic produced in the 1960s, but less of the plastic used in water bottles, which took off in the 1990s.
—Nina Agrawal, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
On a recent weekday morning, workers were getting coffee at the Wawa on Amelia Earhart Boulevard, while, overhead, an F-16C from the New Jersey Air National Guard took off seaward.
—Robert Sullivan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
Season 3 of Tulsa King was cleared for takeoff after series star and executive producer Stallone closed a new deal in November to continue on the show for two more seasons with a major salary increase.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
This year, on January 31, a little further west on Cottman, a Learjet 55 medevac flight crashed one minute after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take off
Verb
-
Fields and Wilson departed this offseason, while backup Skylar Thompson was signed and Rudolph returned, possibly starting if the Steelers don't sign Rodgers and make a big trade.—
Ryan Deto,
Axios,
31 Mar. 2025
-
King said records show the plane arrived there March 22 and departed the day of the crash.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Following the act of protest, the referee of the University of Maryland match -- which was not an NCAA tournament -- issued a black card to Turner, removing her from the competition.—
Leah Sarnoff,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Karl Mitchell is speaking with PEOPLE after officials in Nevada seized his seven tigers on Wednesday Comments Authorities in Nevada removed seven tigers from a residence in Parumph early Wednesday morning.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Johnson and Reno passed the track between them, each working separately, adding and subtracting small pieces.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
8 Apr. 2025
-
This translates to a dramatic reduction in opportunities for walk-on players, and likely subtracting other spots, too.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
An extremely rare inflammatory condition in his blood vessels caused several blood clots to form on both sides of his head, placing him in a coma and robbing him of the ability to speak, walk and eat.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Their righteous scores soon turn dangerous when the pair end up robbing the wrong house to one of the biggest and secretive narcotics operations on the East coast.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The launch collection will consist of around 14 pieces, ranging from sports bras and tops to shorts, leggings, sweatpants, hoodies and lightweight outerwear.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
That’s quite a strong performance for the series, which had already landed among the top three launches in Paramount+ history, alongside Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 and Landman — all of which have been major hits for producers Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This semester's show is a musical parody of Love Island called Love on an Island.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
So Far Kilmer’s career spanned nearly four decades, starting with his first movie in 1984, the absurd joke-a-minute World War II parody Top Secret!, from the knuckleheads that created the comedy classic Airplane!—
John DeVore,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Eventually any discourse about his low batting average and moving him in the lineup evaporated as Judge finished with a .322 average, 58 homers and 144 RBIS, barely missing out on matching Mickey Mantle in the Triple Crown department.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Sacramento State moved up from non-scholarship Division II to scholarship Division I in 1991.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
He’s put off plans to buy a new packaging machine, and is reducing investment for now until the uncertainty clears.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
-
These are the six most common reasons why so many people are putting off parenthood, according to the study. 1.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Take off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take%20off. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share