# lift off

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lift-off
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to begin flight

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to leave the ground and start flying, usually used for rockets, helicopters, or planes.

For teachers: to leave the ground and begin flight; most commonly applied to the vertical ascent of rockets or helicopters from a stationary position.

- The rocket is scheduled to lift off at exactly ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
- Spectators gathered at a safe distance to watch the massive rocket lift off, feeling the ground shake as the engines reached full power.

Usage: The verb is intransitive in this sense and does not take a direct object.

### 2. to remove from a surface

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to pick something up or remove it from the surface it was resting on.

For teachers: to physically raise an object from a surface or to remove a covering by pulling it upward.

- He carefully lifted the lid off the box to see what was inside.
- The forensic team used specialized tape to lift off the fingerprints from the glass surface without damaging the evidence.

Usage: This sense is transitive and separable; you can lift the lid off or lift off the lid.

## Examples

- The plane lifts off at 10 AM.
- The pilot waited until the runway was clear before the plane lifted off.
- As the rocket lifted off, the crowd erupted in cheers, marking the start of the space mission.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: contrast with 'take off' (more general) and note that 'lift off' is more specific to mechanical things taking off.

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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.