Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for airdrop. Search instead for airdropped.
Synonyms

airdrop

American  
[air-drop] / ˈɛərˌdrɒp /

verb (used with object)

airdropped, airdropping
  1. to drop (persons, equipment, etc.) by parachute from an aircraft in flight.


noun

  1. the act or process of airdropping.

airdrop British  
/ ˈɛəˌdrɒp /

noun

  1. a delivery of supplies, troops, etc, from an aircraft by parachute

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to deliver (supplies, etc) by an airdrop

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of airdrop

First recorded in 1945–50; air 1 + drop


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.

See Examples For:

The National Guard may need to airdrop kegs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Some countries airlift or airdrop humanitarian relief supplies, but are also concerned about stockpiling for themselves.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

“We have to perform the airdrop as a surprise, so people don’t gather below,” Phille said earlier.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2025

The airdrop is one of several events organised to mark the anniversary of Operation Market Garden, an ambitious military offensive designed to speed up the invasion of Nazi Germany and shorten the war in Europe.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2024

On May 6,1 set up a base camp on the ice cap just northeast of the Thumb and waited for the airdrop.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Israel's military said early on Sunday that it had airdropped humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, after also announcing humanitarian corridors for UN aid convoys.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2025

The United States, France and others have airdropped tens of thousands of military-style meals into Gaza, but those deliveries have fallen far short of the 6.6 million meals that are needed each day.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2024

“The issue of aid is brutal and no one accepts it,” said another resident, Momen Mahra, claiming that most airdropped aid falls into the sea.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 9, 2024

King Abdullah II of Jordan said on Monday that his country’s air force had airdropped “urgent medical aid” to a field hospital operated by the kingdom in the Gaza Strip.

From New York Times ● Nov. 6, 2023

Then adds, “A few years back, I remember hearing about a stranded cruise ship. They airdropped them Spam and Pop-Tarts. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have MoonPies.”

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

The result is that an average food delivery by truck costs $180 per ton, while airdropping is a whopping $16,000 per ton, according to a U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2025

Countries have even tried airdropping aid from the sky — a tactic which aid groups say is a last-ditch resort because it can’t deliver aid in large quantities and also has led to deaths.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 25, 2024

The US Air Force has released footage of American cargo planes airdropping humanitarian aid into northern Gaza.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2024

Jordan began airdropping aid in November and has completed more than a dozen missions since, largely to resupply its field hospitals in Gaza.

From New York Times ● Feb. 27, 2024

Initially, the copycat protests consisted of individual students furtively leaving posters with those slogans on their campuses or airdropping fliers to strangers in public places — what activists called a “poster movement.”

From Washington Post ● Nov. 10, 2022

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training