airborne
Americanadjective
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carried by the air, as pollen or dust.
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in flight; aloft.
The plane was airborne by six o'clock.
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Military. (of ground forces) carried in airplanes or gliders: abn
airborne infantry.
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Aeronautics. (of an aircraft) supported entirely by the atmosphere; flying.
adjective
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conveyed by or through the air
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(of aircraft) flying; in the air
Etymology
Origin of airborne
Explanation
Something that's airborne is flying through the air. A soaring seagull is airborne, and so is a rock launched from a slingshot. If you've ever tried parachuting from an airplane, you've been airborne, sailing through the sky, and when the plane itself takes off from the runway, it becomes airborne. On a windy day at the beach, people's umbrellas and towels sometimes become airborne. Bourne here is the past tense of bear, or "carry," so when something is airborne, it's carried by the air.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Svitlana, 48, a nurse in an airborne assault unit, also saw the arrival of Drapaty -- a respected "combat officer" -- as "positive."
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
Unlike flu or Covid, it is not airborne and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
According to researchers, any toxic airborne chemicals would likely stem from the charred foam insulation, metal exterior, burned solar panels and any lithium batteries that might have been present inside the warehouse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Experts say to avoid using leaf blowers if ash is present in the garden because they can send particles airborne.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
“Besides, once airborne, where would either of you go? I know where to find a healer, if I can but figure out our location. I will return shortly.”
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
