liftoff

American  

[lift-awf, -of] / ˈlɪftˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

Or lift-off

noun

• liftoffs
  plural

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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• liftoffs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of liftoff

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

liftoff liftoffs

A few minutes after liftoff, its two halves will separate and fall away, allowing Roman to continue its journey into space.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

His film is likable as heck but never quite achieves liftoff.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Wagner is confident that geothermal energy has now achieved liftoff, and will only get better and cheaper over time.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

Alexi has achieved cultural liftoff in a you-gotta-see-this way.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

“I’ll remain here in liftoff mode, in case you want to leave quickly,” the pilot said.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

Its built-in solid propellant makes launches harder for outsiders to detect than liquid-fueled missiles, which must be fueled before liftoffs.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 18, 2023

Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from performing any launches using ballistic technology, such as satellite liftoffs and missile tests.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 29, 2023

It was a thing of teeth-rattling liftoffs and bone-thumping landings and a dependence on fire—fire!, the fuel of the primitives—to get anywhere at all.

From Time ● Feb. 27, 2015

The engaging Gomez’s liftoffs occur courtesy of ZFX’s flying ­effects.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 9, 2014

Besides bone-rattling liftoffs and astronauts goofing around in the space shuttle, the film features trips through the Hubble images themselves.

From New York Times ● Apr. 5, 2010

Related Words

• launch