take off

British  

verb

1. (tr) to remove or discard (a garment)

2. (intr) (of an aircraft) to become airborne

3. informal to set out or cause to set out on a journey

   they took off for Spain

4. (tr) (of a disease) to prove fatal to; kill

5. informal (tr) to mimic or imitate, esp in an amusing or satirical manner

6. informal (intr) to become successful or popular, esp suddenly

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noun

1. the act or process of making an aircraft airborne

2. the stage of a country's economic development when rapid and sustained economic growth is first achieved

3. informal an act of mimicry; imitation

take off Idioms  

1. Remove, as in Take off your coat and stay for a while , or I took my foot off the brake . [c. 1300]

2. Deduct, decrease, as in He took 20 percent off the original price , or I want you to trim my hair, but please don't take off too much . [c. 1700]

3. Carry or take away, as in The passengers were taken off one by one . [Late 1800s]

4. Also, take oneself off . Leave, go away, as in I'm taking off now , or We take ourselves off for China next month , or, as an imperative, Take yourself off right now! [First half of 1800s]

5. Move forward quickly, as in The dog took off after the car .

6. Become well known or popular, or achieve sudden growth, as in That actor's career has really taken off , or Sales took off around the holidays . [Mid-1900s]

7. Rise in flight, as in The airplane took off on time . [Mid-1800s]

8. Discontinue, as in The railroad took off the commuter special . [Mid-1700s]

9. Imitate humorously or satirically, as in He had a way of taking off the governor that made us howl with laughter . [Mid-1700s]

10. Withhold service, as in I'm taking off from work today because of the funeral . [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

With demand already struggling to take off, rising prices are a problem.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

“I’m okay to take off, but he doesn’t have that flexibility,” she said.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

Petti expects Ebitda and free cash flow per share to rise at compound annual growth rates of 4% and 12%, respectively, through the end of 2028 as the initiatives take off.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

In front of the judge, Babb testified that he had told Gamble she could either take off the costume or leave the protest.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

A lump the size of a Cadbury Egg forms in my throat as I take off running for the front office, my wobbly legs completely forgotten.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Related Words

• blast off
• blow
• depart
• disappear
• get off
• get out
• go
• pull out
• soar
• withdraw