noun
airlift
EH-uh-lihft
Airlift (noun) means the transport of people or supplies by aircraft, especially in an emergency. Example: “The government organized an airlift to evacuate the stranded tourists.”
noun
1
The transport of people or supplies by aircraft, especially in an emergency.
"The government organized an airlift to evacuate the stranded tourists."
verb
1
To transport people or goods by aircraft, typically in an emergency.
"Injured climbers were airlifted off the mountain."
How to use airlift
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEmergency transport by air, or the act of moving people or supplies that way.
Common pairings
humanitarian airlift
airlift supplies
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Word forms
- Plural
- airlifts
- Third person singular
- airlifts
- Past tense
- airlifted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The government organized an _____ to evacuate the stranded tourists.
Etymology
From "air" plus "lift," modeled on the earlier word "sealift."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “airlift” mean?
The word “airlift” means the transport of people or supplies by aircraft, especially in an emergency. In plain terms, emergency transport by air, or the act of moving people or supplies that way.
How do you pronounce “airlift”?
“Airlift” is pronounced EH-uh-lihft (/ˈɛə.lɪft/ in IPA).
How do you use “airlift” in a sentence?
Here is “airlift” used in a sentence: “The government organized an airlift to evacuate the stranded tourists.”
What part of speech is “airlift”?
Depending on how it is used, “airlift” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “airlift” have?
“Airlift” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the transport of people or supplies by aircraft, especially in an emergency.
