take off

Short definition: The phrase take off means to remove clothing, or for an aircraft to leave the ground and begin flying, and can also mean to become suddenly successful.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the phrasal verb take off? This is a very common expression in English and it appears in many different contexts. It can describe an airplane leaving the ground, removing clothing, becoming suddenly successful, or leaving a place quickly. Because it is used in both literal and figurative ways, the meaning depends on context. Below are detailed meanings with realistic examples so you can clearly understand how take off works in everyday English.

take off v. /ˌteɪk ˈɒf/

Forms: take off, takes off, took off, taken off, taking off
Related: depart v., remove v., launch v., leave v.
Syllable: take-off

  1. (Verb) To leave the ground and begin flying.

    To take off most commonly refers to an airplane or aircraft leaving the ground and beginning its flight.

    The plane will take off in about ten minutes.
    The helicopter took off smoothly from the landing pad.
    Passengers must remain seated until the aircraft has taken off.

    Synonyms: depart, lift off, launch, ascend, rise, leave ground, climb, start flight, become airborne, begin journey, move upward, soar
    Antonyms: land, touch down, descend, arrive, settle, return to ground, drop, fall, stop flight, come down, approach runway, ground

  2. (Verb) To remove clothing or something covering the body.

    Take off can also mean removing clothing, shoes, or accessories from your body.

    He took off his jacket when he entered the warm room.
    Please take off your shoes before coming inside.
    She quickly took off her coat and sat down.

    Synonyms: remove, pull off, slip off, strip off, peel off, shed, get out of, discard, take away clothing, detach, lift away, undo
    Antonyms: put on, wear, dress in, cover up, fasten, button up, zip up, layer, clothe oneself, add clothing, wrap up, suit up

  3. (Verb) To become suddenly successful or popular.

    In another sense, take off describes something becoming suddenly popular, successful, or growing quickly after a slow start.

    Her business really took off after the product went viral.
    The singer’s career took off after the hit single.
    The new app is expected to take off this year.

    Synonyms: succeed rapidly, boom, flourish, rise quickly, grow fast, gain popularity, surge, explode in success, expand rapidly, skyrocket, thrive, become famous
    Antonyms: fail, collapse, decline, stagnate, struggle, lose popularity, fall flat, slow down, fade away, shrink, flop, disappear

  4. (Verb) To leave quickly or suddenly.

    Take off can also mean leaving a place quickly, sometimes in a hurry or unexpectedly.

    He suddenly took off without saying goodbye.
    When the meeting ended, she took off to catch her train.
    The kids took off running toward the playground.

    Synonyms: leave quickly, dash away, rush off, run off, depart suddenly, hurry away, bolt, disappear fast, make a quick exit, speed off, head out, escape
    Antonyms: stay, remain, linger, wait, settle down, stick around, remain present, hold position, pause, slow down departure, remain behind, stay put

Conversation Using the Phrasal Verb Take off

At a busy international airport, Arthur and Beatrice are watching planes on the runway. This conversation highlights take off, which means for an aircraft to leave the ground, to remove clothing, to become successful quickly, or to leave a place suddenly.

Arthur: Look at that massive cargo plane! It’s incredible to see how much power it needs to take off with such a heavy load of goods.

Beatrice: I agree; I always feel a bit of a rush when the airplane starts to take off and you feel that sudden push back into your seat.

Arthur: I read that her jewelry business really started to take off after a famous influencer posted a photo wearing one of her necklaces.

Beatrice: I noticed that you had to take off your shoes before entering the temple to show respect for the local traditions and customs.

Arthur: If the weather doesn't improve, the flight controller might refuse to let any more flights take off until the fog clears significantly.

Beatrice: I saw a colleague take off early from the office today because she had to pick up her children from their school play rehearsals.

Arthur: It’s a good idea to take off a few days from work every few months to prevent burnout and keep your creative energy levels high.

Beatrice: I agree; I’m going to take off my jacket because it’s becoming quite warm in the terminal with all these crowds of people waiting.

Arthur: I’m glad our flight is finally ready to take off; I’ve been looking forward to this vacation in Japan for over six months now.

Beatrice: Me too; once the wheels take off the ground, we can finally relax and enjoy the journey to our destination across the ocean.

Phrases Containing the Phrasal Verb Take Off

The phrases below show how the phrasal verb take off is used to talk about removing something, leaving quickly, or becoming successful.

Take off your shoes

To remove footwear.

Please take off your shoes before entering the house to keep the floor clean.

Take off a jacket

To remove clothing.

He took off his jacket because the room was warmer than expected.

Take off quickly

To leave in a hurry.

She took off quickly after receiving an urgent phone call from her office.

Take off from the airport

To begin flying.

The plane took off from the airport just as the sun was rising.

Take off sunglasses

To remove eyewear.

He took off his sunglasses to read the small print more clearly.

Take off the lid

To remove a cover.

She carefully took off the lid to check if the soup was ready.

Take off your hat

To remove headwear.

He took off his hat respectfully during the national anthem.

Take off successfully

To become popular or profitable.

Her online business really took off after a famous influencer mentioned it.

Take off makeup

To remove cosmetics.

Before going to bed, she always takes off her makeup to protect her skin.

Take off the mask

To remove a face covering.

He took off the mask once he stepped outside into fresh air.

Take off the pressure

To reduce stress.

The coach tried to take off the pressure by reminding the team to enjoy the game.

Take off the day

To not work that day.

She decided to take off the day to rest and recover from exhaustion.

Take off suddenly

To depart abruptly.

The bird took off suddenly when it heard a loud noise nearby.

Take off the cover

To remove a protective layer.

He took off the cover to inspect the equipment carefully.

Take off the uniform

To remove official clothing.

After his shift ended, he took off the uniform and headed home.

Take off a ring

To remove jewelry.

She took off her ring before washing her hands.

Take off the training wheels

To remove beginner support.

It was time to take off the training wheels and let the new employee work independently.

Take off the gloves

To become aggressive or serious.

During the debate, the candidates took off the gloves and criticized each other openly.

Take off your coat

To remove outerwear.

Please take off your coat and make yourself comfortable.

Take off the label

To remove a sticker or tag.

She carefully took off the label from the jar before recycling it.

Words Rhyme with take off

shake off
make off
fake off
bake off
wake off
cake off
lake off
stake off
snake off
brake off
off
scoff
doff
cough
trough
soft
aloft
loft
croft
layoff
playoff
show-off
kick-off
spin-off
send-off
rip-off
cutoff
hoff
prof
kov
POS: Verb Phrase