flight took off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flight took off" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a plane taking off from a runway, such as in this example sentence: "The flight took off at 6:00 AM, bound for Italy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Finally, Larsen's flight took off.

The New York Times - Sports

"The flight took off at 3.26 eastern time.

The Guardian

The flight took off at 8 17 a.m.

The New York Times

The driver showed up with my passport about five minutes after my flight took off.

The New York Times

In the end, the flight took off more than two hours late, at 11 40 a.m.

The New York Times

The craft's obsolescence was thus virtually guaranteed before the first flight took off.

The New York Times - Arts

That's where a flight took off to deliver him back East, to his deskbound realities.

The New York Times

The flight took off again, but the woman was not allowed back on the plane.

The New York Times

The flight took off about 6 30 p.m. with all passengers on board.

The New York Times

It was one of the original runways at the airport when the first commercial flight took off there in 1948.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

India's high flyers can't fail to see the slums as their flights take off.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a specific incident, provide the exact time the "flight took off" for clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using present or future tenses when referring to a past event. Ensure you use "took off" (past tense) instead of "takes off" or "will take off" when describing a completed takeoff.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flight took off" functions as a declarative statement indicating the commencement of an aircraft's journey into the air. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academic Institutions & Universities

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "flight took off" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe an aircraft's departure, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, this phrase serves to report the event of a plane becoming airborne. While stylistically neutral, the phrase can be made more specific by adding details such as time and location. Alternatives like "aircraft departed" offer a more formal tone. Be mindful to use the past tense "took off" when referring to past events. In summary, "flight took off" is a straightforward and widely accepted phrase for indicating the start of an air journey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the plane left the ground

Simple and direct way of describing the takeoff.

airplane departed

Uses "departed" instead of the phrasal verb "took off".

plane became airborne

Highlights the state of being in the air.

the jet lifted off

Specific to jet aircraft; uses a slightly more emphatic verb.

aircraft ascended

Focuses on the act of climbing into the air.

flight commenced

Formal alternative using "commenced" to indicate the start of the flight.

flight initiated its journey

Emphasizes the beginning of the trip.

the aircraft soared

Adds a sense of majesty or smooth ascent.

the flight was underway

Focuses on the ongoing status of the flight after takeoff.

the plane taxied and took to the skies

More descriptive, including the taxiing action before taking off.

FAQs

How can I use "flight took off" in a sentence?

You can use "flight took off" to describe the moment an aircraft leaves the ground. For example: "The "flight took off" on time despite the earlier delays."

What is a more formal alternative to "flight took off"?

A more formal alternative is "aircraft departed". This phrase is suitable for official reports or formal writing.

What does it mean when someone says "flight took off"?

It means the airplane has started its journey and is now in the air.

Is there a difference between "plane took off" and "flight took off"?

While both phrases are acceptable, ""flight took off"" typically refers to a scheduled service, whereas "plane took off" is a more general statement about an aircraft leaving the ground. They are largely interchangeable, though.