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

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."

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."

To suddenly become popular or successful.

"The podcast really took off after it was mentioned on breakfast television."

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 notes

In 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

takeoff → take on take out take over

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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lift off become airborne depart ascend remove strip off peel off succeed boom catch on take flight leave

Antonyms

land touch down put on don flop stall

Related words

go part come country hit leave land ground

Rhymes for take off

Geoff takeoff

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.

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go part come country hit leave land ground