airborne
gb/ˈɛɹbˌɔɹn/ us/ˈɛɹbˌɔɹn/
B1
English
~ 8400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
state
1
in the air and flying
In the air and not on the ground, especially when a plane or object is flying.
Usage pattern:
[something] is airborne
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "airborne" with "on board". "Airborne" means in the air and flying, while "on board" means inside a vehicle, such as a plane or ship, whether it is moving or not. Learners may also overuse "airplane" and say *"the airplane was in the air"* instead of the more natural "the airplane was airborne" in aviation contexts.
Synonyms
flying (Everyday word for being in the air; less technical and can also refer to the act of travel, not just the state.)
Antonyms
grounded (Describes aircraft or people that are kept on the ground and not allowed or able to fly.)
Collocations
become airborne
|go airborne
|keep [something] airborne
|stay airborne
|airborne for hours
Themes
travel
|transport
|sports
|transportation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Once the plane is airborne, you may move around the cabin.
- The drone was airborne for nearly thirty minutes before the battery died.
- The stunt sent the car airborne for a few seconds before it landed safely.
- As soon as the wheels left the runway, the pilot announced that they were airborne.
- The helicopter managed to get airborne despite the strong winds.
Learner examples
- The plane is airborne now.
- The ball went airborne and flew over the wall.
- Our helicopter was airborne in less than a minute.
- The bird became airborne very quickly.
- The small toy car went airborne after it hit the ramp.
adjective
B2
property
2
spread or carried through air
Moving or spreading through the air as very small pieces, like germs, dust, or smoke.
Usage pattern:
[something] is airborne
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "airborne" in this sense only refers to planes. In health and science, "airborne" usually describes diseases, germs, dust, or chemicals that move through the air. Also, learners may mix it up with "airborn" (a common misspelling) or with "born in the air", which is incorrect.
Synonyms
aerial (More formal and often used in technical or scientific contexts to describe things happening in or through the air.)
Antonyms
waterborne (Describes diseases or substances that are carried or spread through water instead of through the air.)
Collocations
airborne disease
|airborne virus
|airborne transmission
|airborne particles
|airborne pollutants
Themes
health
|science
|environment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Health officials warned that the virus can be airborne in crowded indoor spaces.
- Airborne particles from the factory settled on nearby houses.
- Good ventilation helps reduce the risk of airborne transmission of diseases.
- The study focused on how long airborne droplets remain in the air.
- Masks can block many airborne germs from entering your nose and mouth.
Learner examples
- Some illnesses are airborne and spread through the air.
- The doctor explained that the virus is not airborne.
- There are many airborne particles in the city air.
- Airborne dust made it hard for me to breathe.
- Opening windows can help reduce airborne germs.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
moved by aircraft, especially troops
Moved by plane or helicopter, especially for army groups that fly into a place and may jump by parachute.
Usage pattern:
airborne [unit/forces/troops]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "airborne" here means only "in the air". In military use, it usually describes units that travel by air and are specially trained for parachute or helicopter operations, not just any soldiers who happen to be on a plane.
Synonyms
paratrooper (Refers to an individual soldier who jumps by parachute, not to the general quality of being transported by air.)
Antonyms
ground (In military contexts, "ground" or "ground forces" operate on land and are not transported by air.)
Collocations
airborne troops
|airborne division
|airborne assault
|airborne forces
|airborne operation
Themes
military
|transport
|politics
|transportation
Examples
- The army sent in airborne troops to secure the airport.
- He served in an airborne division during his military career.
- The plan called for an airborne assault before the main ground offensive.
- Airborne units were trained to operate far behind enemy lines.
- The airborne forces landed at dawn to surprise the defenders.
Learner examples
- He is a soldier in an airborne unit.
- The general ordered an airborne attack.
- Airborne troops arrived before the tanks.
- She studied the history of airborne forces in World War II.
- They trained with an airborne division in the desert.
Grammar
Dictionary form
airborne
IPA
GB/ˈɛɹbˌɔɹn/
US/ˈɛɹbˌɔɹn/
Syllables & stress
air - borne (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (air)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: airborne
Word family
Expressions
airborne transmission
1/ˈɛɹbˌɔɹn tɹænzmˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
spread of disease through air
The way a disease or substance moves from one place or person to another through the air as very small pieces.
Examples
- Scientists are still studying the risk of airborne transmission of the virus.
- Good masks can help reduce airborne transmission in crowded places.
- The report concluded that airborne transmission was the main route of infection.
airborne troops
1/ˈɛɹbˌɔɹn tɹˈups/
fixed phrase
technical
soldiers moved into battle by air
Soldiers who travel by plane or helicopter into a battle area and may jump by parachute.
Examples
- Airborne troops were dropped behind enemy lines during the night.
- The museum has a special exhibit on airborne troops in World War II.
- The commander requested airborne troops to support the ground units.
go airborne
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈɛɹbˌɔɹn/
fixed phrase
suddenly leave the ground
To suddenly leave the ground and move into the air, often quickly or with force.
Examples
- The small plane hit a bump in the runway and then went airborne.
- The skateboard went airborne when it hit the ramp.
- Everyone cheered as the rocket went airborne.