Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

take off

VERB
leave; leave the ground
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blast off blow depart disappear get off get out go lift off pull out soar withdraw
WEAK
ascend bear beat it become airborne begone clear out decamp exit go away head hightail hit the road hit the trail light out make quit scram set out shove off split take to the air vamoose
Antonyms
STRONGEST
arrive come come in continue stay
VERB
mock, satirize
Synonyms
WEAK
ape burlesque caricature imitate lampoon mimic parody ridicule send up spoof travesty
Antonyms
WEAK
arrive come stay

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.

A parrot that attempted to take off from the main runway at Dublin Airport was reunited with its owner in 2019.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

When two MC-130Js, a special-operations aircraft, landed in a makeshift forward-operating base inside Iran they ran into problems when their nose wheels sank into the ground and couldn’t take off, officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch will make the voyage with their Canadian colleague Jeremy Hansen, and are now preparing to take off as soon as Wednesday.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Within the U.S., the savory yogurt craze has been slow to take off.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

I had to take off my shirt and place the thermometer between my arm and the side of my body.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom