plane took off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plane took off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the moment an aircraft leaves the ground and begins its flight. Example: "As the sun set on the horizon, the plane took off, leaving the city behind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Suddenly, the plane took off.

The New York Times

"Was asleep as the plane took off.

Independent

Sometime around midday, the plane took off.

The New York Times

The plane took off shortly before dusk.

The New Yorker

The plane took off, and everyone was quiet.

The New Yorker

The plane took off, rattling like a freight car.

The New Yorker

Finally, the plane took off for America without her.

The New York Times - Style

I remember her defeated expression as the plane took off.

The Guardian - Opinion

Angelou listened politely until the plane took off.

The Guardian - Books

The 30-passenger plane took off half empty.

The New York Times

The plane took off, and they burst into applause.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific time, follow "the plane took off" with a precise time. For example, "The plane took off at 6:00 AM."

Common error

Avoid using past perfect tense incorrectly. Instead of saying "The plane had took off", use the simple past: "The plane took off."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plane took off" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of an aircraft becoming airborne. Ludwig examples confirm its common usage in describing the event of an airplane beginning its flight.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "plane took off" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to describe the action of an aircraft becoming airborne. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. Alternatives such as "aircraft departed" or "flight commenced" can be used for a more formal tone. When using this phrase, it's important to use the correct simple past tense and provide context for clarity, such as specifying the time or location.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aircraft departed

Replaces the more common "plane" with the formal "aircraft" and "took off" with the more formal "departed".

airplane ascended

Replaces "plane" with "airplane" and "took off" with "ascended", focusing on the upward movement.

the plane lifted off the runway

Emphasizes the physical action of the plane leaving the runway.

the airliner departed

Uses "airliner" for a large passenger plane and "departed" for a formal tone.

flight commenced

"Flight commenced" is more formal and emphasizes the beginning of the entire journey.

the flight began its ascent

Similar to "flight commenced" but includes "ascent", highlighting the upward movement.

the jet soared

Uses "jet" for a specific type of plane and "soared" to describe a smooth, powerful take off.

the aircraft became airborne

A more technical and formal way of saying the plane left the ground.

the aircraft initiated takeoff

A more technical and formal way to describe the start of the take off process.

the plane was in the air

Focuses on the state of the plane after taking off.

FAQs

How to use "plane took off" in a sentence?

You can use "plane took off" to describe the moment an aircraft leaves the ground. For example, "The "plane took off" despite the heavy rain.".

What can I say instead of "plane took off"?

Alternatives include "aircraft departed", "flight commenced", or "airplane ascended", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Which is correct, "plane took off" or "plane taked off"?

"Plane took off" is the correct past tense form. "Taked" is not a standard verb form.

What's the difference between "plane took off" and "plane is taking off"?

"Plane took off" refers to a completed action in the past. "Plane is taking off" describes an action in progress at the moment of speaking.