Browse all

splash down

B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

When a spaceship or rocket lands in the sea at the end of a mission

Literal meaning: To come down and splash into water — fully transparent

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

Of a spacecraft or space capsule, to land in the sea at the end of a mission

"The Apollo 11 command module splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969."

"The Orion capsule splashed down off the coast of Baja California."

— NASA mission report, Artemis I, December 2022
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral

To fall or drop into water with a splash, used of any object or person

"The stone splashed down into the pond and sank immediately."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Primarily a technical and journalistic term associated with space exploration. Gained wide usage during the NASA Apollo and Mercury programs. Can occasionally describe other objects hitting water with force. The noun 'splashdown' (one word) is also common.

Commonly used with

capsule spacecraft astronauts module ocean Pacific

Forms

Base
splash down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
splashes down
he/she/it
Past simple
splashed down
yesterday
Past participle
splashed down
have + pp
-ing form
splashing down
continuous

Understand "splash down" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

land in the ocean ditch (emergency) water-land touch down (in water)

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "splash down" on Looplines