rocket

¹ American  

[rok-it] / ˈrɒk ɪt /

noun

1. any of various simple or complex tubelike devices containing combustibles that on being ignited liberate gases whose action propels the tube through the air: used for pyrotechnic effect, signaling, carrying a lifeline, hurling explosives at an enemy, putting a space vehicle into orbit, etc.

2. a space capsule or vehicle put into orbit by such devices.

3. rocket engine.

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verb (used with object)

• rockets,
  present (3rd person singular)
• rocketed,
  past participle,  past
• rocketing
  present participle

1. to move or transport by means of a rocket.

2. to attack with rockets.

verb (used without object)

• rockets,
  present (3rd person singular)
• rocketed,
  past participle,  past
• rocketing
  present participle

1. to move like a rocket.

2. (of game birds) to fly straight up rapidly when flushed.

rocket ² American  

[rok-it] / ˈrɒk ɪt /

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Hesperis, of the mustard family, and related genera.

2. Also called roquette.  Also called rocket salad,.  the arugula plant, used in salads.

3. a noxious weed, Barbarea vulgaris, of the United States, having lobed leaves and clusters of small, yellow flowers.

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rocket ¹ British  

/ ˈrɒkɪt /

noun

1. Also called: arugula.  a Mediterranean plant, Eruca sativa , having yellowish-white flowers and leaves used as a salad: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)

2. any of several plants of the related genus Sisymbrium , esp S. irio ( London rocket ), which grow on waste ground and have pale yellow flowers

3. any of several yellow-flowered plants of the related genus Barbarea , esp B. vulgaris

4. any of several plants of the related genus Cakile , esp C. maritima , which grow along the seashores of Europe and North America and have mauve, pink, or white flowers

5. another name for dame's violet

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rocket ² British  

/ ˈrɒkɪt /

noun

1. a self-propelling device, esp a cylinder containing a mixture of solid explosives, used as a firework, distress signal, line carrier, etc

2. 1. any vehicle propelled by a rocket engine, esp one used to carry a warhead, spacecraft, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      rocket propulsion

      rocket launcher

3. informal a severe reprimand (esp in the phrase get a rocket )

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verb

1. (tr) to propel (a missile, spacecraft, etc) by means of a rocket

2. (intr; foll by off, away, etc) to move off at high speed

3. (intr) to rise rapidly

   he rocketed to the top

rocket Scientific  

/ rŏk′ĭt /

1. A vehicle or device propelled by one or more rocket engines, especially such a vehicle designed to travel through space.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rocketlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• rocketing
  present
• rocketed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• rocket
  simple
• rockets
  simple
• have rocketed
  perfect
• has rocketed
  perfect
• am rocketing
  progressive
• are rocketing
  progressive
• is rocketing
  progressive
• have been rocketing
  perfect progressive
• has been rocketing
  perfect progressive

Past

• rocketed
  simple
• had rocketed
  perfect
• was rocketing
  progressive
• were rocketing
  progressive
• had been rocketing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will rocket
  simple
• will have rocketed
  perfect
• will be rocketing
  progressive
• will have been rocketing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of rocket¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Italian rocchetta, diminutive of rocca “distaff” (with reference to its shape); from Germanic

Origin of rocket²

First recorded in 1525–35; from French roquette, from Italian ruchetta, ultimately from Latin ērūca kind of herb

Explanation

A rocket is a space vehicle or missile, or the special engine that's meant to propel such a vehicle into the air. You can even get a model rocket that's small enough to shoot off in your backyard. A rocket or rocket engine uses thrust to propel something toward the sky, whether it's a spacecraft that will orbit the Earth or a bottle rocket that will explode overhead. You can use the word as a verb, too, to mean "move or rise up rapidly": "The startled pheasant rocketed out of the brush and disappeared into the trees." It can also be used figuratively to mean "increase rapidly": "The company's stock price rocketed after the announcement of the new CEO."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rocket rockets rocketed rocketing

"It's like a rocket, have we created a monster for next year? Perhaps. It proves the city can cope."

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

“It’s not rocket science,” the spokesperson wrote of this initiative in a response to ProPublica’s questions.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

Rocket Lab said it now has a deal to operate a mission for Kepler Communications, using its Neutron rocket, which is on schedule to be rolled out to the launch pad next quarter.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

“As the saying goes…this ain’t rocket science, well actually, rocket science is literally our daily business,” Musk joked as the stock plunged Tuesday evening.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

Khrushchev’s son Sergei, who was training to be a rocket scientist, asked his father why he didn’t roar to the world about the offensive and illegal American flights.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

The techniques vary: either seeding rockets are burned to release a plume of particles, or the saline solution is sprayed directly into the cloud for greater precision.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

Musk told analysts Tuesday that Starship would result in a dramatic increase from the 2,500 tons Falcon rockets deliver to orbit a year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

The SpaceX earnings call with Elon Musk on Tuesday night was entertaining as always and featured some ambitious plans for rockets and robots, starships and satellites.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

This helped the British to bomb the research facility and delayed the use of the rockets, which first hit London in 1944.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

At my old school, I did a project about propulsion using two-liter soda bottles, some pipe, and Nerf-ish foam rockets.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

From that July 29 low, SPX rocketed 477 points higher in less than five trading days.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Although Perez’s livestream proceeded for around 15 minutes before it was shut down, screenshots and clips rocketed across the internet, invading countless social media feeds.

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026

Platner, an oyster farmer and military veteran, rocketed to the top of the Democratic field with a message of plain-spoken populism.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Then, two batters later, reliever Kyle Hurt threw a four-seam fastball down the middle of the plate, and Machado rocketed the pitch to the center field wall beyond the grasp of a leaping Pages.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

The hangar doors slid open, and the Vonnegut rocketed out the launch tunnel and up into the starry sky.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Nothing will slow the object down, like the atmosphere would do here on Earth - and nothing will prevent the estimated million kilograms in debris from rocketing up into space.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

The waterway is a critical route for energy transit, sending oil prices rocketing.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

When the news sent crude-oil prices rocketing, he logged on to Hyperliquid and closed his position to lock in a massive 243% gain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026

Shares of Dell Technologies were rocketing higher Friday, following a stellar earnings report that echoed the strengthening opportunity for traditional computing in the artificial-intelligence buildout.

From MarketWatch ● May 29, 2026

Then, without warning, the cheetah shot out from the shade with blinding speed, rocketing right at us.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• ascend
• climb
• escalate
• grow
• lift
• rise
• sail
• skyrocket
• soar
• take off
• zoom