launch

1 of 3

verb

ˈlȯnch How to pronounce launch (audio)
ˈlänch
launched; launching; launches

transitive verb

1
a
: to throw forward : hurl
launched an arrow at a target
b
: to release, catapult, or send off (a self-propelled object)
launch a rocket
2
a
: to set (a boat or ship) afloat
b
: to give (a person) a start
launched her on a new career
c(1)
: to put into operation or set in motion : initiate, introduce
launch a business
launch a fund drive
(2)
: to get off to a good start
a literary dinner to launch the bookNewsweek
d
: to load into a computer's memory and run
launch a program

intransitive verb

1
a
: to spring forward : take off
The catapult snagged and the plane overturned before it could launch.
b
: to enter energetically
launched into an impromptu speechTim Tucker
2
a
archaic : to slide down the ways
b
: to make a start
had launched on his hour of studyHallam Tennyson

launch

2 of 3

noun (1)

: an act or instance of launching

launch

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a large boat that operates from a ship
2
: a small motorboat that is open or that has the forepart of the hull covered

Examples of launch in a Sentence

Verb The enemy launched an attack at sunrise. She's trying to launch a new career as a singer. The police have launched an investigation into his activities. He helped launch her in her career as a singer. The company is expected to launch several new products next year. You can launch the program by double-clicking on the icon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Cramton launched The Murder Mystery Company in 2002 to focus on interactive murder, mystery events. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 Federal authorities have also launched their own probe into allegations of discrimination at UC Berkeley since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The brand’s 121-foot 40M Oasis has proven popular since it was launched in 2020, a larger 131-footer came out last year, and the Veranda deck will be showing up on Benetti’s new 148-foot Motopanfilo. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 Starbucks Odyssey was first launched in 2022 and was an offshoot of existing Starbucks loyalty program. Angela L. Pagán / The Takeout, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 For Reid, outside of her recent Emmy win, she’s also been involved in a handful of endeavors, including teaming up with Coca-Cola to launch their new drink flavor, as well as an appearance in The Nun 2, where Reid played Debra. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024 Gear went on to assume publishing roles at Magic Mustang Music, Sea Gayle Music and BMG before launching the creative publishing venture Hang Your Hat Music in 2020 with Concord Music and award-winning Songwriter Hall of Famer, Hillary Lindsey. Thania Garcia, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 At The Post’s request, two analysts reviewed available satellite imagery of the area taken by Planet Labs and Airbus on Jan. 7, covering a radius of roughly 1.2 miles from where the drone was launched. Hazem Balousha, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 ByteDance’s website shows that the company developed TikTok as a global short video product and formally launched it in May 2017. Laura He, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024
Noun
The mission will take 53 days from launch to landing in Inner Mongolia. IEEE Spectrum, 20 Mar. 2024 Astronauts completed a questionnaire about their headache history before launch. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024 The actor recently embarked on an educational tour of several U.S. universities to discuss the series ahead of its U.S. launch on Hulu. Ed Meza, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 The overwater venue was initially scheduled to open in Miami in December 2022 but the launch was pushed back to the following spring and is now slated for sometime in 2024. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 Coastal Southern California, which rarely sees lightning, witnessed several hundred bolts Monday from a string of unusual thunderstorms — a display not to be overshadowed by the day’s other overhead spectacle, the SpaceX rocket launch. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The launches came days after joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises that North Korea denounced as provocative. Michael Crowley, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Weaving through the mangroves, the Greenway features paved pathways, canoe and kayak launches, scenic overlooks for wildlife viewing, and a hidden entrance near the Naples Zoo and Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Kara Franker, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2024 Sabyasachi dinner On Thursday, Saks and Indian luxury brand Sabyasachi hosted an exclusive evening in Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of Sabyasachi’s limited-time pop-up at Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills. Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'launch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French *lancher, lancer, from Late Latin lanceare to wield a lance — more at lance

Noun (2)

Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish lancha, from Portuguese

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1749, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of launch was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near launch

Cite this Entry

“Launch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

launch

1 of 3 verb
ˈlȯnch How to pronounce launch (audio)
ˈlänch
1
a
: to throw or spring forward : hurl
launch a spear
b
: to send off an object especially with force
launch a rocket
c
: to set a ship afloat
2
a
: to put in operation : begin
launch an attack
b
: to give a person a start
c
: to make a start especially energetically
launcher noun

launch

2 of 3 noun
: an act of launching

launch

3 of 3 noun
: a small motorboat that is open or that has the front part of the hull covered
Etymology

Verb

Middle English launchen "to launch, hurl," from an early French dialect word launcher (same meaning), from Latin lanceare "to use a lance"

Noun

from Spanish or Portuguese lancha "a boat used to go to and from a large ship"

More from Merriam-Webster on launch

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