rocket
1 Americannoun
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any of various simple or complex tubelike devices containing combustibles that on being ignited liberate gases whose action propels the tube through the air: used for pyrotechnic effect, signaling, carrying a lifeline, hurling explosives at an enemy, putting a space vehicle into orbit, etc.
-
a space capsule or vehicle put into orbit by such devices.
verb (used with object)
-
rockets,
present (3rd person singular)
-
rocketed,
past participle, past
-
rocketing
present participle
-
to move or transport by means of a rocket.
-
to attack with rockets.
verb (used without object)
-
rockets,
present (3rd person singular)
-
rocketed,
past participle, past
-
rocketing
present participle
-
to move like a rocket.
-
(of game birds) to fly straight up rapidly when flushed.
noun
-
any of various plants belonging to the genus Hesperis, of the mustard family, and related genera.
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Also called roquette, rocket salad. the arugula plant, used in salads.
-
a noxious weed, Barbarea vulgaris, of the United States, having lobed leaves and clusters of small, yellow flowers.
noun
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Also called: arugula. a Mediterranean plant, Eruca sativa , having yellowish-white flowers and leaves used as a salad: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)
-
any of several plants of the related genus Sisymbrium , esp S. irio ( London rocket ), which grow on waste ground and have pale yellow flowers
-
any of several yellow-flowered plants of the related genus Barbarea , esp B. vulgaris
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any of several plants of the related genus Cakile , esp C. maritima , which grow along the seashores of Europe and North America and have mauve, pink, or white flowers
-
another name for dame's violet
noun
-
a self-propelling device, esp a cylinder containing a mixture of solid explosives, used as a firework, distress signal, line carrier, etc
-
-
any vehicle propelled by a rocket engine, esp one used to carry a warhead, spacecraft, etc
-
( as modifier )
rocket propulsion
rocket launcher
-
-
informal a severe reprimand (esp in the phrase get a rocket )
verb
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(tr) to propel (a missile, spacecraft, etc) by means of a rocket
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(intr; foll by off, away, etc) to move off at high speed
-
(intr) to rise rapidly
he rocketed to the top
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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rocketsimple
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rocketssimple
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have rocketedperfect
-
has rocketedperfect
-
am rocketingprogressive
-
are rocketingprogressive
-
is rocketingprogressive
-
have been rocketingperfect progressive
-
has been rocketingperfect progressive
Past
-
rocketedsimple
-
had rocketedperfect
-
was rocketingprogressive
-
were rocketingprogressive
-
had been rocketingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of rocket1
First recorded in 1560–70; from Italian rocchetta, diminutive of rocca “distaff” (with reference to its shape); from Germanic
Origin of rocket2
First recorded in 1525–35; from French roquette, from Italian ruchetta, ultimately from Latin ērūca kind of herb
Explanation
A rocket is a space vehicle or missile, or the special engine that's meant to propel such a vehicle into the air. You can even get a model rocket that's small enough to shoot off in your backyard. A rocket or rocket engine uses thrust to propel something toward the sky, whether it's a spacecraft that will orbit the Earth or a bottle rocket that will explode overhead. You can use the word as a verb, too, to mean "move or rise up rapidly": "The startled pheasant rocketed out of the brush and disappeared into the trees." It can also be used figuratively to mean "increase rapidly": "The company's stock price rocketed after the announcement of the new CEO."
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:
“You’re gonna see the results of what happens when you have a collaboration with the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
And, the defining feature, cold-gas rocket thrusters that jumped the car over a line of vehicles while doing a midair barrel roll.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is expanding rocket production in Florida as it works to challenge SpaceX’s launch business.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
Rocket Lab once again is delaying the maiden launch of its Neutron rocket, dealing a major blow to investors.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
Now, with American bombers stalking the borders of Soviet territory, he launched the rocket.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
That has left the kingdom searching for friends beyond Washington, for allies ready to put rockets where the rhetoric is and assist in a fight Saudi Arabia considers existential.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
The flow of small arms, drones and small-diameter, short-range rockets from Iran initially slowed while Tehran focused on fighting the U.S., but ramped up this summer, a U.S. official said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
The company wants to launch thousands of rockets each year from a planned spaceport in Louisiana.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
Still, SpaceX continues to dominate the global space launch market, thanks to its partially reusable Falcon rockets, and has made risk-taking its mantra.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
I’d left three loaded rockets, Auks VI, VII, and VIII, to cure in the basement while we were on vacation and decided to fire all three the Saturday after we came back.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
The average cost of regular US gasoline has jumped more than 46 percent since late February to $4.37 per gallon, while that of diesel rocketed 67 percent over the same period to $6.28 per gallon.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Mo’ne Davis rocketed to fame after a historic run in the Little League World Series.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Analysts tracked by FactSet expect earnings per share to have rocketed 940% higher in the August quarter relative to a year before.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 27, 2026
Annual merchandise exports rocketed to $3.58 trillion in 2024 from $266 billion in 2001.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
“Sweet mother of— But Grandma rocketed out of her chair. “
From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck
But a critical mass keeps the theory alive and rocketing around the internet.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
Nothing will slow the object down, like the atmosphere would do here on Earth - and nothing will prevent the estimated million kilograms in debris from rocketing up into space.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The waterway is a critical route for energy transit, sending oil prices rocketing.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
Strong first-quarter sales growth and a raised forecast sent the retailer’s shares rocketing 47% to their best single-day gain in history, according to FactSet data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
The moment the cover had been removed, they had started jabbering and rocketing around, rattling the bars and making bizarre faces at the people nearest them.
From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling
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