Meaning & use

trajectory

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/trəˈdʒektəri/
US/trəˈdʒektəri/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablephysics

    The path that a moving object, such as a ball or rocket, follows through the air or space.

    Grammar: Countable.

    Patterns

    • the trajectory of something

    The ball's trajectory curved over the fence.

    Scientists calculated the rocket's trajectory.

    The comet's trajectory passes near Earth.

  2. nouncountablefigurative

    The general direction in which a career, situation or trend is developing.

    Grammar: Figurative.

    Patterns

    • on a trajectory
    • career trajectory

    Her career trajectory was steadily upward.

    The company is on a growth trajectory.

    The policy changed the country's trajectory.

Word forms

pluraltrajectories

Common combinations

career trajectory
Career trajectory.
flight trajectory
Flight trajectory.
upward trajectory
An upward trajectory.
change trajectory
Change trajectory.
calculate the trajectory
Calculate the trajectory.

Synonyms and how they differ

path
Everyday.
course
Direction taken.
arc
A curved path.

Commonly confused: trajectory or trajectory vs tragedy?

trajectory vs trajectory vs tragedy

Unrelated.

Practice

A growth trajectory describes:

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