took flight

USAGE SUMMARY

"took flight" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to begin to fly or to quickly move away from a place. You can use it when describing an action or movement that involves flying or rapid movement. For example: - The birds took flight as soon as the hunter approached. - The children watched in amazement as the paper airplane took flight and soared through the air. - The leaves took flight in the gust of wind, swirling around the park. - The fear took flight as soon as she realized it was just a harmless butterfly. - As the sun began to set, the hot air balloons took flight, creating a beautiful scene in the sky.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Investors, understandably, took flight.

The New York Times - Magazine

Then the third one took flight.

The New York Times - Sports

And from there Hirschman's analysis took flight.

The New Yorker

That was when Shira's plane took flight.

The New Yorker

The legend of Ben Carson took flight.

The Washington Post

Soon after, Yu'e Bao took flight.

The New York Times

Soon Spurrier's unlimited quarterback rotation took flight.

The New York Times - Sports

Their high-tech industry took flight.

The New York Times

When conifers took flight: the evolution of wind dispersal.

University of California, Berkeley

"What is whose name?" Alarm took flight in Hattie.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We took flights all the time".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took flight" to describe not only physical flying but also the start of a successful venture or rapid increase in something like sales or popularity. For instance, "After the new marketing campaign, sales took flight."

Common error

Avoid using "took flight" in situations where a more literal or precise term is needed. For example, instead of saying "The car took flight over the hill", use "The car went over the hill quickly" to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took flight" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of beginning to fly or departing swiftly. It often describes the initiation of movement, whether literal (as with birds) or metaphorical (as with careers or ideas). Ludwig examples demonstrate its varied usage in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "took flight" is a versatile verb phrase indicating the beginning of flying or a metaphorical surge in progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently used across diverse contexts, from describing birds literally taking to the air to illustrating a company's soaring profits. Its applications span formal and informal registers, with common usage in "news & media", "academia", and scientific domains. Related phrases include "took off" and "began to soar". When using "took flight", ensure the context aligns with its common usages to maintain clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took off

This alternative is a more direct synonym, often used interchangeably with "took flight" to describe physical departure, especially in aviation.

began to soar

This alternative conveys a sense of effortless movement and elevation, suggesting graceful progress.

entered the air

This alternative is a literal description of initiating flight, suitable for technical contexts.

ascended rapidly

This alternative focuses on the upward movement aspect, emphasizing the speed of the ascent.

rose quickly

This alternative captures the rapid increase in altitude or status, emphasizing the speed of the upward movement.

initiated flight

This alternative provides a formal and technical phrasing for the commencement of flying.

departed swiftly

This alternative highlights the quickness of the departure, suitable when emphasizing the act of leaving.

sprang into action

This alternative is useful when describing a sudden burst of activity or initiative, moving away from the literal flying meaning.

gained momentum

This alternative is appropriate when describing the start of rapid progress or increasing success, metaphorical use.

was launched

This alternative emphasizes the initiation of something, often used for projects, careers, or initiatives.

FAQs

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

You can use "took flight" to describe the physical act of flying, as in "The bird took flight from the branch". It can also describe a sudden increase or success, such as "Her career took flight after landing the lead role".

What is a good alternative to "took flight"?

Alternatives to "took flight" include "took off", "began to soar", or "rose quickly" depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "took flight" metaphorically?

It's appropriate to use "took flight" metaphorically when describing something that has suddenly become successful or has rapidly progressed. For example, "The company's profits took flight after the new product launch".

What's the difference between "took flight" and "took off"?

"Took flight" and "took off" are often interchangeable, but "took flight" can sometimes carry a more poetic or imaginative connotation, whereas "took off" is generally more straightforward and commonly used in aviation contexts.