Take off
verb
When an airplane or bird moves upwards from the ground and begins to fly.
The plane will take off at 8 p.m.
Often appears as...
- take off from the runway
- take off smoothly
verb
To remove something, especially clothes or accessories.
Please take off your hat when you enter the building.
Often appears as...
- take off your shoes
- take off makeup
phrasal verb
To leave the ground and begin to fly.
The whole family took off on a vacation to the seaside.
Often appears as...
- take off on holiday
- take off early
phrasal verb
To start to be successful in your career, business, etc.
Her business really took off after her appearance on the television show.
Often appears as...
- career take off
- business take off
phrasal verb
To copy the way somebody speaks, moves, behaves, etc. in order to make people laugh; to mimic.
She's always taking off the teachers to make us laugh.
Often appears as...
- take off the voice
- take off the walk
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
phrasal verb
To quickly go away; to depart hastily.
As soon as the police arrived, the thieves took off.
Often appears as...
- take off quickly
- take off in the car
phrasal verb
To deduct or subtract a quantity or amount.
Take off 10% off the total bill because of the discount.
Often appears as...
- take off discount
- take off percentage
verb
When an airplane or bird moves upwards from the ground and begins to fly.
The plane will take off at 8 p.m.
Often appears as...
- take off from the runway
- take off smoothly
verb
To remove something, especially clothes or accessories.
Please take off your hat when you enter the building.
Often appears as...
- take off your shoes
- take off makeup
phrasal verb
To leave the ground and begin to fly.
The whole family took off on a vacation to the seaside.
Often appears as...
- take off on holiday
- take off early
phrasal verb
To start to be successful in your career, business, etc.
Her business really took off after her appearance on the television show.
Often appears as...
- career take off
- business take off
phrasal verb
To copy the way somebody speaks, moves, behaves, etc. in order to make people laugh; to mimic.
She's always taking off the teachers to make us laugh.
Often appears as...
- take off the voice
- take off the walk
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
phrasal verb
To quickly go away; to depart hastily.
As soon as the police arrived, the thieves took off.
Often appears as...
- take off quickly
- take off in the car
phrasal verb
To deduct or subtract a quantity or amount.
Take off 10% off the total bill because of the discount.
Often appears as...
- take off discount
- take off percentage
Definition 1 of 7
Pro Tip 1/2Flight Departure
Used to announce when flights begin their journey in the air, often heard in airports.
The announcement said our flight takes off at noon.
Pro Tip 2/2Actual Takeoff
Describes the exact moment flight is achieved, not the process of leaving the airport.
We felt the plane take off after speeding down the runway.
Pro Tip 1/2Flight Departure
Used to announce when flights begin their journey in the air, often heard in airports.
The announcement said our flight takes off at noon.
Pro Tip 2/2Actual Takeoff
Describes the exact moment flight is achieved, not the process of leaving the airport.
We felt the plane take off after speeding down the runway.
Pro Tip 1/2Flight Departure
Used to announce when flights begin their journey in the air, often heard in airports.
The announcement said our flight takes off at noon.
Pro Tip 2/2Actual Takeoff
Describes the exact moment flight is achieved, not the process of leaving the airport.
We felt the plane take off after speeding down the runway.
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