landing
LAN-dihng
Landing (noun) means the act of coming down onto a surface, especially of an aircraft. Example: “The pilot made a smooth landing despite the strong crosswinds.”
noun
1
The act of coming down onto a surface, especially of an aircraft.
"The pilot made a smooth landing despite the strong crosswinds."
"The plane's landing was delayed due to fog."
"The passengers clapped after the bumpy landing on the small island."
2
The flat area at the top of a staircase or between two flights of stairs.
"She left her shoes on the landing outside the bedroom."
"The cat sat asleep on the landing at the top of the stairs."
"There is a window on the half landing where the stairs turn."
3
A place on a shore or riverbank where boats load, unload, or dock.
"Fishermen unloaded their catch at the old landing."
"We waited at the landing for the ferry to dock."
"A small wooden landing stuck out into the quiet lake."
How to use landing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishComing down to the ground (a plane, a jump), or the flat spot at the top of stairs.
Common pairings
emergency landing
crash landing
stand on the landing
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like landing.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- landings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pilot made a smooth _____ despite the strong crosswinds.
Etymology
Formed from land + the suffix -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for landing
handing
sanding
standing
branding
demanding
upstanding
commanding
outstanding
understanding
grandstanding
notwithstanding
misunderstanding
See all rhymes for landing →
Frequently asked questions
What does “landing” mean?
The word “landing” means the act of coming down onto a surface, especially of an aircraft. In plain terms, coming down to the ground (a plane, a jump), or the flat spot at the top of stairs.
How do you pronounce “landing”?
“Landing” is pronounced LAN-dihng (/ˈlændɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “landing” in a sentence?
Here is “landing” used in a sentence: “The pilot made a smooth landing despite the strong crosswinds.”
What part of speech is “landing”?
“Landing” is a noun.
Is “landing” a common word?
“Landing” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “landing” have?
“Landing” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of coming down onto a surface, especially of an aircraft.
What is the difference between landing and takeoff?
They are the two opposite ends of a flight. Takeoff is when an aircraft leaves the ground and climbs into the air; landing is when it descends and touches back down onto a runway or surface. Pilots often regard landing as the more demanding of the two manoeuvres.
What are the types of aircraft landing?
Pilots describe several. A soft landing is smooth and gentle, while a hard landing meets the ground with a jolt. A touch-and-go briefly lands before taking off again, and an emergency or forced landing happens unexpectedly when something goes wrong. Coming down on water at sea is called ditching.
What is an example of a landing?
A plane touching down on a runway is the clearest example, but the word reaches wider. A spacecraft settling on the Moon, a gymnast coming down cleanly after a somersault, or a bird alighting on a branch are all landings — the moment of coming to rest on a surface.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include landing:
