touch down

USAGE SUMMARY

"touch down" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe the landing of an airplane or other aircraft. For example: "The pilot touched down safely at the airport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

WHEN did the tornado touch down?

The New York Times

Where will they touch down?

The New Yorker

Touch down in Tarpon Springs.

The Guardian - Travel

"They'll touch down out there and then track northeast.

The New York Times - Magazine

The tornado did not touch down in Lester.

The New York Times

"I needed to touch down with the nose slightly up.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

A touch-down amplification protocol improved the frequency of detection.

Journal of Virological Methods

Application on a wave energy device using coupled simulations highlights the importance of the touch-down region in catenary moorings.

Ocean Engineering

There is a good correlation among Id/Ig, lube bonded ratio, disk wear density and slider delta touch-down power.

Materials & Design

Cycling conditions followed the touch-down protocol of [12].

Plosone

FLT3 genotyping was carried out using nested touch-down PCR.

Blood Cancer Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an aircraft's arrival, use "touch down" to vividly convey the moment the wheels meet the ground.

Common error

Avoid using "touch down" loosely to mean simply "arrive" in contexts unrelated to aviation or sports. For general arrival, consider alternatives like "arrive" or "reach the destination" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "touch down" is that of a phrasal verb. It combines the verb "touch" with the particle "down" to create a specific meaning related to landing or scoring. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase accurately describes the action of an aircraft landing or a scoring play in sports.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

34%

Wiki

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "touch down" is a versatile phrasal verb primarily used to describe the landing of aircraft or scoring a touchdown in American football. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. With a neutral register, it fits well in various contexts from news and media to science and general conversation. Although commonly used, it's crucial to avoid using "touch down" loosely as a synonym for "arrive" in contexts other than aviation or sports. Using more precise alternatives like "land", "arrive", or "score a touchdown" ensures clarity and appropriateness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

land

This is a more general term for bringing an aircraft or spacecraft to the ground.

make a landing

This phrase emphasizes the action of landing an aircraft.

set down

This implies a gentle or controlled landing or placement.

arrive

This term broadens the context to any form of reaching a destination, not specifically aircraft.

reach the ground

A more literal way of saying to physically arrive to the floor, runway, or any other ground surface.

score a touchdown

This refers specifically to the American football context of scoring.

come to rest

This is a more descriptive phrase that means to stop moving.

meet the ground

This implies a collision instead of a smooth arrival.

hit the ground

This phrase can refer to a rough or uncontrolled landing or it could be an idiomatic way of speaking about making progress.

ground

This verb refers to the act of forbidding a plane to fly.

FAQs

How to use "touch down" in a sentence?

You can use "touch down" to describe the landing of an aircraft, as in "The plane will "touch down" in Heathrow at about 2 o'clock" or to describe the act of scoring in American football.

What can I say instead of "touch down" when referring to an aircraft?

Alternatives include "land", "make a landing", or "set down".

What does "touch down" mean in American football?

In American football, "touch down" refers to scoring six points by having a player carry the ball into the opponent's end zone or catch it while in the end zone.

Is "touch down" formal or informal language?

"Touch down" is generally considered neutral language suitable for both formal and informal contexts, particularly when discussing aviation or sports. However, in scientific writing, it might be better to use a more technical term.