phrasal verb
take off
tayk OFF
Take off (phrasal verb) means to leave the ground and begin flying, as an aircraft or bird does. Example: “The plane took off twenty minutes late.”
phrasal verb
1
To leave the ground and begin flying, as an aircraft or bird does.
"The plane took off twenty minutes late."
"We watched the geese take off from the far end of the lake."
2
To remove a piece of clothing or something attached.
"Take off your shoes before you come in."
"She took her earrings off and dropped them on the table."
3
To suddenly become popular or successful.
"The podcast really took off after it was mentioned on breakfast television."
4
informal To leave a place suddenly, often without explanation; also, to have a period away from work.
"He just took off in the middle of dinner."
"I'm taking Friday off to move house."
How to use take off
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo leave the ground and fly, or to remove something you are wearing.
When to use it
Everyday English in all senses; the "leave suddenly" sense is informal.
Memory tip
Watch the stress: in the verb, off is stressed; in the noun takeoff, the stress moves to take.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
take off your coat
the plane takes off
take a day off
business really took off
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We watched the geese _____ from the far end of the lake.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for take off
See all rhymes for take off →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between take off and takeoff?
"Take off" as two words is the verb — the plane took off. "Takeoff" as one word is the noun for the moment of leaving the ground, and also for an imitation or parody: a takeoff of the prime minister.
Is take off separable?
Yes, in most senses. You can say "take off your coat" or "take your coat off", and a pronoun must go in the middle: "take it off", never "take off it". The flying sense is intransitive and takes no object at all.
What is the difference between take off and take away?
Take off means to remove something from a surface or body, or to depart. Take away means to remove something from a place or a person, or in British English to buy food to eat elsewhere.
What is the meaning of take off?
"take off" (phrasal verb) means to leave the ground and begin flying, as an aircraft or bird does.
