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

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

The project, he says, is "quite literally ready for take off".

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

Fewer controllers working this summer could prompt the FAA to further slow the number of flights that can take off or land at one of the region’s busiest travel hubs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

Still, vegetation is relatively dry as the region heads into its peak fire season, and any ignition could quickly take off, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

I am so tired by the end of each day that sometimes I fall into bed without bothering to take off my shoes.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

Related Words

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