touchdown
noun
touch·​down
| \ ˈtəch-ˌdau̇n
\
\
Definition of touchdown
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: the act of touching a football to the ground behind an opponent's goal
specifically
: the act of scoring six points in American football by being lawfully in possession of the ball on, above, or behind an opponent's goal line when the ball is declared dead
2
: the act or moment of touching down (as with an airplane or spacecraft)
touch down
verb
touched down;
touching down;
touches down
Definition of touch down (Entry 2 of 2)
: to reach the ground : land
: to place (the ball in rugby) by hand on the ground on or over an opponent's goal line in scoring a try or behind one's own goal line as a defensive measure
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Synonyms & Antonyms for touchdown
Synonyms: Verb
alight, land, light, perch, roost, settle
Antonyms: Verb
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Examples of touchdown in a Sentence
Noun
What was the plane's speed at touchdown?Verb
the plane will touch down in about 30 minutesRecent Examples on the Web: Noun
Doss, of UC Davis and Alameda, has a team-leading 11 catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in three games. — Matt Kawahara, SFChronicle.com, "These five undrafted Raiders rookies are making a roster push," 24 Aug. 2019 Manual became the first team to hold Central without a touchdown since Pleasure Ridge Park's 42-3 win over the Yellowjackets on Oct. 28, 2016. — Nate Bryan, The Courier-Journal, "Manual football uses defense to stymie reigning 3A state champ Central," 24 Aug. 2019 The senior rushed for 184 yards on nine carries and three touchdowns while averaging 20.4 yards per attempt. — Rich Torres, Indianapolis Star, "With chip on its shoulder and playing to honor coach, Cathedral races out big win over Noblesville," 24 Aug. 2019 Peoples-Jones led the team in receptions and receiving touchdowns in 2018 and is one of the most athletic players in the Big Ten. — Chris Thomas, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football crystal ball: Here's our bowl projection," 24 Aug. 2019 Garrett’s 57-yard run on the first play from scrimmage set up James Coby’s 2-yard touchdown plunge for a 7-0 advantage. — Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, "Football: De La Salle stumbles, loses to St. Thomas Aquinas," 23 Aug. 2019 Cordell Saunders carried 18 times for 121 yards and a touchdown for East Ridge in a 49-27 win over Mount Dora. — orlandosentinel.com, "Lake Brantley, East River, pour on points | Football Roundup," 23 Aug. 2019 Jorge Charro led Mendez with 14 carries for 51 yards, while recovering a fumble that led to the team’s only touchdown. — Andrew J. Campa, Glendale News-Press, "Defense leads Glendale High to season-opening victory," 23 Aug. 2019 Akintunde had two fumble recoveries – one that saved a touchdown and another that set up a fourth-quarter field goal by David Martinez. — Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Steele Canyon survives early test against Eastlake," 23 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
But this summer also threw a curveball in the form three rare tornadoes that touched down July 23. — Washington Post, "Sharks, tornadoes and taxes: Cape Cod’s had a tough summer," 30 Aug. 2019 Still, nothing beats a little comfort on a long journey, as evidenced by Irina Shayk, who touched down at the JFK airport in New York today wearing no-fuss sweats. — Vogue, "Irina Shayk Finds the Most Relatable Airport Style Hack," 29 Aug. 2019 Exactly a year ago Eritreans could hardly contain their joy as Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed touched down in Asmara. — Martin Plaut, Quartz Africa, "The glow of the historic accord between Ethiopia and Eritrea has faded," 9 July 2019 The National Weather Service confirmed 19 tornadoes that touched down in Ohio on May 27 and 28, including an EF4. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Federal disaster relief available for those impacted by Memorial Day tornado outbreak," 18 June 2019 The first tornado was an EF-1 storm that touched down at 7:26 p.m. southwest of Beech Grove. — Crystal Hill, Indianapolis Star, "10 tornadoes touched down in Indiana, the weather service says. Here's the all-time record," 18 June 2019 Geologists will want rock specimens from edges of crates and peaks, not just the flatter, less rocky areas the lunar lander can touch down on. — Alex Stuckey, Houston Chronicle, "Listen: Experts look ahead to lunar buggies," 12 June 2019 By the time her plane touched down in Christchurch, a new companion had been arranged. — Kristen Pope, Smithsonian, "Trailblazing Engineer Irene Peden Broke Antarctic Barriers for Women," 8 June 2019 The title formerly belonged to a 24-year-old man who touched down in every country by 2016. — Halley Bondy, NBC News, "In the know: Women in the news 6/3-6/7," 7 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'touchdown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for touchdown
touchdown
noun
English Language Learners Definition of touchdown
American football
: a score that is made by carrying the ball over the opponent's goal line or by catching the ball while standing in the end zone
rugby
: the act of scoring points by putting the ball on the ground behind an opponent's goal line
: the moment when an airplane or spacecraft touches the ground at the end of a flight
touchdown
noun
touch·​down
| \ ˈtəch-ˌdau̇n
\
\
Kids Definition of touchdown
: a score made in football by carrying or catching the ball over the opponent's goal line
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