liftoff

American  

[lift-awf, -of] / ˈlɪftˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

Or lift-off

noun

1. Aeronautics, Rocketry.

   1. the action of an aircraft in becoming airborne or of a rocket in rising from its launching site under its own power.

   2. the instant when such action occurs.

2. Informal. the launching or commencement of a project, plan, etc..

   The liftoff of the sales campaign will be next month.

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adjective

1. able to be shifted or removed by lifting off; capable of being lifted off.

   I organized the workshop with these liftoff adhesive labels for bins and shelves.

   We used magnetic liftoff nameplates on the lockers.

liftoff British  

/ ˈlɪftˌɒf /

noun

1. the initial movement or ascent of a rocket from its launch pad

2. the instant at which this occurs

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verb

1. (intr, adverb) (of a rocket) to leave its launch pad

Etymology

Origin of liftoff

First recorded in 1955–60; noun and adjective use of verb phrase lift off

Example Sentences

He has edited his solos a little; they seem more concise, but they still achieve the same goal: liftoff.

From Salon • May 28, 2026

The Elon Musk-led company is targeting a Thursday evening liftoff from its Starbase complex outside of Brownsville, Texas.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

The structures experienced minimal damage despite the intense forces generated during liftoff.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

The rocket straps three Falcon 9 rocket cores together and has 27 liftoff engines, compared with nine for the smaller rocket.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

In 1986, the Shuttle Challenger was destroyed about a minute after liftoff, when a hole burned through the side of a solid rocket booster, causing a gigantic explosion.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins

Related Words

• launch