already taken off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "already taken off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been removed or departed from a place or situation prior to the current moment. Example: "The plane has already taken off, so we missed our flight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

She predicts that mobile banking, which has already taken off in Kenya, will be a great enabler of m-health.

The Economist

The diet has already taken off with high-profile figures in sport and food, according to Mr Goggin's website.

Independent

Then Samir's primary school, Woodgrange Infant's in Newham, tried a new method of reducing truancy – one that had already taken off in more than 150 schools in England.

The Guardian

Kennedy's aides said later that they weren't aware at that moment that Johnson and his party were aboard the plane, that they had assumed he had returned to Air Force Two and, in fact, had already taken off for Washington.

The New Yorker

A petition has already taken off demanding that the two men be pardoned (to which the Obama administration's response could be reasonably be summed up as: "You've gotta be kidding").

Independent

Sorry, he said, but everyone had already taken off for the long holiday weekend, and he was late for a date, so, have a nice weekend and call back Tuesday.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

And that is controversial.To reduce the workload on pilots, big UAS can already take off and land automatically.

The Economist

Customer service is one area where it is already taking off, particularly among banks and insurance companies.

The Economist

Builders may have been having difficulties getting their work done, but house prices are already taking off.

The Guardian - Business

"We're just stepping in a shining a light" on something that's already taking off on its own, he said.

The Washington Post

Commercial jets can already take off, cruise and land using computer technology, enabling planes to land at some airports even in foggy conditions.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "already taken off", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to physical departure (like a plane) or the removal of something (like an item from a menu). Use more specific synonyms if ambiguity persists.

Common error

Avoid using "taken off" when you mean "to take off" in the context of imitating someone. For example, say 'He can "take off" his boss really well' instead of 'He can taken off his boss really well'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already taken off" primarily functions as a compound verb phrase indicating that an action of departing or removing has already occurred. Ludwig shows many examples of its use in describing past events or completed actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "already taken off" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates a prior departure, removal, or commencement. Grammatically correct, it's widely found in various contexts, particularly in news and media. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for neutral to formal writing and used to convey that something has happened before the present moment. While the phrase is well-accepted, carefully consider the specific meaning needed and opt for more precise synonyms where necessary to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

already departed

Replaces the phrasal verb with a single verb, making it slightly more formal.

already left

Simplifies the phrase by using a more common verb, suitable for informal contexts.

already been removed

Emphasizes the removal aspect, useful when the focus is on the object being removed.

already commenced

Focuses on the start of an event or activity, more formal in tone.

already initiated

Similar to 'already commenced', but with a stronger emphasis on the initial action.

already in progress

Shifts the focus to the ongoing state of something rather than the start or removal.

already underway

Similar to 'already in progress', but slightly more dynamic and emphasizes movement.

already elapsed

Used when referring to time that has passed since something started or was removed.

already concluded

Focuses on the completed state of an event or activity.

already disappeared

Emphasizes the fact that something is no longer visible or present.

FAQs

What does "already taken off" mean?

The phrase "already taken off" generally means that something has departed, been removed, or commenced before the present moment. The specific meaning depends on the context.

What can I say instead of "already taken off"?

You can use alternatives like "already departed", "already left", or "already been removed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the plane already taken off"?

The correct phrasing is "the plane has already taken off" or "the plane had already taken off", depending on the tense you intend to convey.

What's the difference between "already taken off" and "about to take off"?

"Already taken off" means the departure or removal has happened in the past, while "about to take off" indicates that the departure or removal is imminent.