# airdrop

/ˈɛɹdɹɑp/ (US) · /ˈeədɹɒp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/airdrop
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. delivery from a plane

noun · CEFR B2

the act of dropping food, medicine, or equipment from a plane using a parachute.

For teachers: the delivery of supplies, equipment, or personnel by dropping them from an aircraft in flight, typically using parachutes.

- The military organized an airdrop to bring food to the people trapped by the flood.
- Following the earthquake, the relief agency coordinated a massive airdrop of medical supplies to the remote mountain villages where roads were blocked.

### 2. to drop from a plane

verb · CEFR B2

to drop supplies or people from a plane.

For teachers: to deliver goods or personnel via aerial drop from an aircraft.

- The pilots had to airdrop the crates because there was no place to land.
- The logistics team decided to airdrop the heavy machinery directly into the clearing to save time on ground transport.

Usage: Often used as a transitive verb taking a direct object.

### 3. sending files wirelessly

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to send a photo or file from one phone or computer to another using a wireless connection.

For teachers: to transfer data between devices using a proprietary close-range wireless protocol, specifically Apple's AirDrop.

- Can you airdrop that photo of the sunset to my phone?
- She asked her colleague to airdrop the presentation slides so she could review them on her tablet during the flight.

Teaching tip: While technically a brand name, it is commonly used as a lowercase verb in casual conversation.

### 4. cryptocurrency distribution

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a way of giving away free digital money (tokens) to many people at once to promote a new project.

For teachers: the unsolicited distribution of a cryptocurrency token or coin, usually for free, to numerous wallet addresses to encourage adoption.

- I received some free tokens in a recent airdrop from a new tech company.
- The startup announced an airdrop to reward early adopters and increase the liquidity of their new digital asset.

## Examples

- The plane made an airdrop of food to the remote village.
- After the earthquake destroyed the main roads, the only way to reach the survivors was through a daily airdrop of medical supplies.
- The tactical success of the mission relied entirely on the precision of the midnight airdrop, which had to land within a narrow clearing to avoid detection.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.