1
as in exits
to leave a place often for another
I can only stay for a few minutes, and then I'll need to take off again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in removes
to rid oneself of (a garment)
take off your coat and stay awhile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in subtracts
to take away (an amount or number) from a total
the store will take an additional 20% off if you bring in this coupon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in robs
slang
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
a gangbanger who decided to take off some fast-food joint
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of takes off
Meet the man whose calculations quietly determine how, and whether, your next flight takes off.
—
Toni Odejimi, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
In the clip, Gelli Haha and her backup dancers twirl around vibrant decor in the sky before the singer hops behind the steering wheel of a huge, fluffy cloud and takes off on a trippy voyage.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
An aircraft takes off from Beirut Airport as smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike Tuesday.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Things take a turn when Claire takes off, only to come back covered in someone else’s blood.
—Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
And this is where the movie takes off from retro mythology to become its own slovenly mod thing.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
Quadruple Loop This jump is more difficult because Malinin takes off and lands on the same leg, without the assistance of picking off the ice.
—Alice Park, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
As long as the flight takes off and lands, the transaction feels complete.
—Shain Shapiro, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
From there, the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway takes off, a 68-mile loop with tunnels and bridges that cuts through the park and the surrounding Black Hills National Forest.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Toni Odejimi, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
In the clip, Gelli Haha and her backup dancers twirl around vibrant decor in the sky before the singer hops behind the steering wheel of a huge, fluffy cloud and takes off on a trippy voyage.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
An aircraft takes off from Beirut Airport as smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike Tuesday.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Things take a turn when Claire takes off, only to come back covered in someone else’s blood.
—Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
And this is where the movie takes off from retro mythology to become its own slovenly mod thing.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
Quadruple Loop This jump is more difficult because Malinin takes off and lands on the same leg, without the assistance of picking off the ice.
—Alice Park, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
As long as the flight takes off and lands, the transaction feels complete.
—Shain Shapiro, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
From there, the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway takes off, a 68-mile loop with tunnels and bridges that cuts through the park and the surrounding Black Hills National Forest.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes off
Verb
-
African oil producers face a more volatile future after the United Arab Emirates exits OPEC on May 1 — a move that could weaken a cartel many of them rely on to support prices.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Nick Jonas exits his hotel in New York on April 24.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tent sweeps, in which the government removes tents from public areas, are a human rights concern.—
Jeremy Wolff,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Anything that disrupts the water’s surface tension — or removes it altogether — can spare your backyard from swarms.—
Ryan Brennan
April 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The calculation also subtracts income from Roth conversions and retirement plan rollovers.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After seeing the financial circumstances of his community members, Sinise's character enters a bank — where Wilson is the guard — and robs it for cash.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Left fielder Mark Collins robs Galloway of a hit with a diving catch.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After this storm departs on Sunday, the Bay Area will see a drying pattern through the end of April, Canepa said.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
This particular instance, however, departs from cliché in important ways.—
Susan Tallman,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The state’s homestead market-value exclusion program automatically deducts a certain amount of value for the purpose of calculating property taxes.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Players had been negotiating for a percentage of overall revenue without factoring in expenses while the WNBA was seeking sharing tied to net revenue, mirroring the NBA’s structure that deducts expenses before sharing 50% of profits.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Carr is a natural athlete who moves like a great shortstop, and his ability to find cleaner throwing air out of the pocket — and his ability to make throws from multiple arm slots — is special.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
As the Moon moves through your 9th House of Learning, conversations shape direction.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Leaving clean laundry in the dryer or hamper only puts off a chore until later, keeps clean clothes from its proper place, and also risks wrinkles or someone accidentally mistaking it for dirty laundry instead.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Takes off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/takes%20off. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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