helicopter
Americannoun
-
helicopters
plural
verb (used without object)
-
helicopters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
helicoptered,
past participle, past
-
helicoptering
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
helicopters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
helicoptered,
past participle, past
-
helicoptering
present participle
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
helicoptersimple
-
helicopterssimple
-
have helicopteredperfect
-
has helicopteredperfect
-
am helicopteringprogressive
-
are helicopteringprogressive
-
is helicopteringprogressive
-
have been helicopteringperfect progressive
-
has been helicopteringperfect progressive
Past
-
helicopteredsimple
-
had helicopteredperfect
-
was helicopteringprogressive
-
were helicopteringprogressive
-
had been helicopteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of helicopter
From the French word hélicoptère, dating back to 1885–90. See helico-, -pter
Explanation
A helicopter is a flying vehicle with a system of rotors that lift and propel it. In some cities, police officers patrol in helicopters. In some suburbs, wealthy people even commute by helicopter. Like airplanes, helicopters travel through the air — but unlike airplanes, they don't have wings. Most helicopters have a large rotor blade on top that creates lift by spinning rapidly. Smaller rotors help the helicopter move and steer. Hospitals use helicopters for transporting patients in crisis, for whom an ambulance might not move fast enough. The word comes from Greek roots, helix, "spiral," and pteron, "wing."
Vocabulary lists containing helicopter
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:
He heard a rumbling sound, distant at first, but getting louder until it was like a helicopter approaching.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Seven mountain rescuers responded to the call, and a helicopter eventually airlifted the teenager off the mountain.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
"We tried to walk out along the rocks to them but... the waves were just coming in and it was just too dangerous to put the crew in, so the helicopter was tasked."
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
"When the helicopter came, they tried to move in to winch them but there was too much down draft off the mountain for it to happen," McManamon explained.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
“But maybe the helicopter will hear it,” Owen told him.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
The sheriff’s office said deputies first responded to the reports of Park being swept out into the ocean at about 8 p.m., after which a search began involving drones, ground crews, and helicopters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2026
Emergency services were at the scene and medical helicopters were deployed to take victims with serious injuries to a specialised hospital.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
It is connected to the other Faroe Islands only by helicopters and small boats—which means, in the mists and high waves of the north Atlantic, that it is rarely connected to anything at all.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Japan also sent about 350 Self-Defense Forces members with three helicopters to help with firefighting efforts in West Kalimantan in September.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
They call the helicopters mosquitoes; they come down and bite.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
Mass opposition and a coup briefly deposed him, but after three days under guard on a military island, he helicoptered back to Caracas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026
Instead, they recommended that Nusslock be helicoptered to UC San Francisco for an abortion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2024
Well, it will not be be helicoptered from one stadium to the other when the final whistle blows.
From BBC ● May 18, 2024
Materials will need to be helicoptered in to many sites, and volunteers will need to go through training to ensure they’re not disrupting other wildlife or vegetation in the area.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2022
It meant sitting quietly in your desk chair while your best friend is helicoptered off for emergency eye surgery.
From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu
Wainschel, a vice president at an automotive marketing technology company, says he doesn’t think his outreach qualifies as helicoptering.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
The priciest dish on the menu tastes like roast beef with a little helicoptering from ginger and turmeric.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 28, 2023
He tumbled out of bounds at nearly 60 miles per hour, his skis helicoptering into the netting on one side of the slope.
From New York Times ● Dec. 5, 2021
“Your moral stature is actually enhanced the more persecuted you are or want to be. It’s a generation of overparenting, protecting children from every conceivable harm, helicoptering over them and infantilizing them.”
From Washington Times ● Oct. 18, 2021
A few fall, helicoptering down to the forest floor.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
