midair

[mid-air]

noun

any point in the air not contiguous with the earth or other solid surface: to catch a ball in midair.

Origin of midair

First recorded in 1660–70; mid- + air¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for mid-air

Contemporary Examples

Because of their mid-air refueling capability, Spectres can stay in the air indefinitely.
Why Drones Don’t Cut It in Syria
Robert Caruso
September 24, 2014
Sohn gained notoriety worldwide for his mid-air acrobatics, and was even sponsored by Chevrolet.
The High-Flying Secrets of BASE Jumpers
William O’Connor
August 4, 2014
Could the Beijing-bound Boeing have disintegrated in mid-air?
The Craziest Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Conspiracy Theories
Caitlin Dickson
March 13, 2014
Some future job, perhaps, where decisions must be made superfast, in mid-air, with a finger dragging across a screen.
Sorry, Folks, Playing Dots Won’t Make You Smarter
Kent Sepkowitz
June 20, 2013
I awoke in mid-air, as the shock wave hurled me against the bedroom's far wall.
The Extinction Parade: An Original Zombie Story by Max Brooks
Max Brooks
January 14, 2011

Historical Examples

There was a wild yell; Andrew was stopped in mid-air by a rifle thrust into his stomach.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
At that moment the wind dropped, and the combatants were suspended in mid-air.
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, July 8, 1914
Various
And then, even as he was in mid-air, he realized what was happening.
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, July 8, 1914
Various
And something seemed to catch the dog in mid-air, as it leaped.
Salvage in Space
John Stewart Williamson
He moved ahead of me for fifteen or twenty feet and then vanished in mid-air.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science September 1930
Various

British Dictionary definitions for mid-air

midair

noun

1. some point above ground level, in the air
2. (as modifier)a midair collision of aircraft

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

Word Origin and History for mid-air

n.

also midair, 1660s, from mid + air (n.1). Lit. "the part of the air between the clouds and the air near the ground."

Idioms and Phrases with mid-air

midair

see under leave hanging.

midair

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}midair

Examples from the Web for mid-air

Contemporary Examples

Because of their mid-air refueling capability, Spectres can stay in the air indefinitely.

Sohn gained notoriety worldwide for his mid-air acrobatics, and was even sponsored by Chevrolet.

Could the Beijing-bound Boeing have disintegrated in mid-air?

Some future job, perhaps, where decisions must be made superfast, in mid-air, with a finger dragging across a screen.

I awoke in mid-air, as the shock wave hurled me against the bedroom's far wall.

Historical Examples

There was a wild yell; Andrew was stopped in mid-air by a rifle thrust into his stomach.

At that moment the wind dropped, and the combatants were suspended in mid-air.

And then, even as he was in mid-air, he realized what was happening.

And something seemed to catch the dog in mid-air, as it leaped.

He moved ahead of me for fifteen or twenty feet and then vanished in mid-air.

midair

Word Origin and History for mid-air

n.

Idioms and Phrases with mid-air

midair

Origin of midair