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lift off

B1 neutral inseparable both
In simple words

When a rocket or helicopter goes straight up into the sky; or when something is picked up off a surface.

Literal meaning: To raise something upward so that it separates from a surface.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

(Of a rocket, spacecraft, or helicopter) to leave the ground and rise vertically into the air.

"The space shuttle lifted off at dawn amid cheers from thousands of spectators."

"We have lift-off."

— NASA Mission Control, Apollo 11 launch, 16 July 1969
Grammar: inseparable
2 A2 neutral

To remove something by picking it up and away from a surface.

"Carefully lift off the lid of the jar so you don't spill the contents."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

(Figurative, informal) for something to start working, growing, or becoming successful.

"The marketing campaign finally lifted off after they switched to social media advertising."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

'Lift off' as a two-word verb is mostly intransitive (the rocket lifts off). As a noun/adjective it is hyphenated: 'liftoff' or 'lift-off'. The transitive use ('lift the lid off') is separable. The aviation/space sense is very well-known due to NASA broadcasts.

Commonly used with

rocket spacecraft helicopter shuttle launchpad lid

Forms

Base
lift off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lifts off
he/she/it
Past simple
lifted off
yesterday
Past participle
lifted off
have + pp
-ing form
lifting off
continuous

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