Meaning & use
trajectory
Last updated
Meanings
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.
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
| plural | trajectories |
|---|
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
Commonly confused: trajectory or trajectory vs tragedy?
trajectory vs trajectory vs tragedy
Unrelated.
Practice
A growth trajectory describes:
Choose one answer.
Trajectory is course of development.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “trajectory”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.