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:
Emergency services including a helicopter, divers and boat units have responded at the scene, where the lake's depth can reach more than 200m, according to Italian news agency Ansa.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
When Trump spoke on the South Lawn on Monday, the White House streamed the event live on its website—but the president’s remarks couldn’t be heard over the din of a nearby helicopter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
The Eurocopter AS32 helicopter went down just before 3 p.m. during firefighting operations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
"Why did Total refuse fuel and landing rights to the helicopter evacuation effort. The court heard that many more rescue missions could have been flown with this support," they said in a statement.
From Barron's
Inside was a card with instructions on where to go to meet a helicopter in case of evacuation—essentially, a ticket out of town.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Clutching small French and Vatican flags, crowds gathered in anticipation ahead of the service, with the city centre sealed off, helicopters circling overhead and snipers positioned on rooftops.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
The force said helicopters from the Coastguard and the Wales Air Ambulance were at the scene close to RAF Valley on the island.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
Although news helicopters are touted as a cornerstone of local news broadcasts, the aircraft are owned and operated by third-party companies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
But even in the city and its immediate suburbs, it is helicopters used by the likes of police, travelers and news crews that often draw complaints.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Seventeen crew members who had ridden in the helicopters had to be decontaminated, scrubbed from head to foot to remove any radioactive particles.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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
“When my predecessor got COVID, he had to get helicoptered to Walter Reed Medical Center. He was severely ill. Thankfully, he recovered,” Biden said.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 30, 2022
“Here’s the bottom line: When my predecessor got covid, he had to get helicoptered to Walter Reed,” Biden said.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 27, 2022
Jedda-Boy was talking about how once when he lived in Nevada, he got helicoptered to a secret location to measure some land.
From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata
After helicoptering to the compound in Pakistan, O’Neill said he and other SEALs reached a third-floor bedroom where bin Laden was.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 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
Or in a game this season against Denver, when he lunged toward the goal line, absorbing multiple hits to the chest and helmet before helicoptering into the end zone.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 2, 2020
A few fall, helicoptering down to the forest floor.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
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.
