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

See Examples For:

take off

But those planes have to take off and land somewhere, and that somewhere has often been American aircraft carriers stationed off the coast.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

He understands how to make split-second decisions, and many involve whether to stay in the pocket or take off and run with his speed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

The flight attendants are seeking an increase in wages and compensation for the work they do on the ground before and after flights take off and land, known as boarding pay and ground pay.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

We want to fly, at the end of this year, an X-Wing demonstrator, which will take off from the Cazaux airbase in the south of France.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

I stuff my book in my backpack and take off just as the bell rings.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

Related Words

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