airlift

noun

air·​lift ˈer-ˌlift How to pronounce airlift (audio)
: a system of transporting cargo or passengers by aircraft often to or from an otherwise inaccessible area
airlift transitive verb

Examples of airlift in a Sentence

an emergency airlift to deliver supplies to the famine victims
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Abbey Gate bombing, in the waning days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country amid the withdrawal by U.S. forces from the country, occurred in August 2021 when a suicide bomber attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport. — arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2025 Fire officials communicated with Kemp over the phone and used drones to evaluate the scene and later determined that a helicopter airlift would be required. Video shared by the Orange County Fire Authority captured a rescuer safely hoist Kemp away from the cliff at the Crescent Bay Beach. — Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 To spare Habiba a long and perilous journey, Jordan had requested an airlift by its military from the Israel-Gaza border, but Israel denied that request, according to a senior Jordanian official, who told CNN Israeli authorities would only approve a land movement. — Abeer Salman, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025 Jordanian aid officials say airlifts can get medicine into Gaza more reliably and faster than trucks. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for airlift

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airlift was in 1943

Rhymes for airlift

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Browse Nearby Words

airlift
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Cite this Entry

“Airlift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airlift. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

airlift

noun
air·​lift ˈa(ə)r-ˌlift How to pronounce airlift (audio)
ˈe(ə)r-
: a system of transporting cargo or passengers by aircraft to or from an area otherwise impossible to reach
airlift verb

More from Merriam-Webster on airlift

Nglish: Translation of airlift for Spanish Speakers

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