jet

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A fast airplane that is powered by jet engines.

   Grammar: Countable: a jet, two jets.

   Patterns

   • by jet
   • a private jet
   • a jet engine

   They took a jet from London to New York.

   The company owns a private jet for business trips.

   Jet travel has made the world much smaller.

2. 2nouncountable

   A strong, narrow stream of liquid or gas that shoots out quickly.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with of.

   Patterns

   • a jet of water
   • a jet of steam
   • come out in jets

   A jet of water shot from the broken pipe.

   The steam escaped in powerful jets.

   He aimed a jet of air at the dust.

3. 3verbintransitiveinformal

   To travel quickly, especially by airplane.

   Grammar: No object; often used informally with off or around.

   Patterns

   • jet off
   • jet around
   • jet to a place

   She jetted off to Paris for the weekend.

   The band jetted around Europe on tour.

   He jetted to Tokyo for a meeting.

Word forms

Common combinations

private jet

Only the very rich can afford a private jet.

jet engine

The jet engine was invented in the 20th century.

jet lag

After flying to Australia, he suffered from jet lag.

jet off

They jetted off to Spain for a holiday.

a jet of water

The fountain sent a jet of water into the air.

Synonyms and how they differ

airplane

General term for any aircraft; jet specifically means one powered by jet engines.

aircraft

A formal word covering all flying machines; jet is narrower.

stream

A continuous flow; a jet is faster and more forceful.

Word family

jetted adjective

Traveled by jet, as in 'jetted' (past participle).

jetting noun

The act of traveling by jet.

Commonly confused: jet or jettison?

Practice

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