as in cargo
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported
the space shuttle can carry a maximum payload of approximately 50,000 pounds
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Recent Examples of payload
Modern rockets such as the Pegasus are capable of being launched from an aircraft and taking small payloads into low Earth orbit.
—
Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
It’s equipped with infrared tracking sensors, secure communication systems, and flexible payload bays that can be configured for weapons, electronic warfare tools, surveillance gear, or decoy equipment, depending on the mission.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
The series of Transporter missions essentially involves billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX serving as a launch service provider for companies and even government agencies that need a rocket to help propel payloads to orbit.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
With a takeoff weight of 51 lb (23 kg), a wingspan of up to 15 ft (4.7 m) and a payload of up to 22 lb (10 kg), the Raybird has a cruising speed of 68 mph (110 km/h) and an endurance of 12 hours.
—New Atlas, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payload
Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
It’s equipped with infrared tracking sensors, secure communication systems, and flexible payload bays that can be configured for weapons, electronic warfare tools, surveillance gear, or decoy equipment, depending on the mission.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
The series of Transporter missions essentially involves billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX serving as a launch service provider for companies and even government agencies that need a rocket to help propel payloads to orbit.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
With a takeoff weight of 51 lb (23 kg), a wingspan of up to 15 ft (4.7 m) and a payload of up to 22 lb (10 kg), the Raybird has a cruising speed of 68 mph (110 km/h) and an endurance of 12 hours.
—New Atlas, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payload
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payload
Noun
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This is the third flight of the cargo Dragon that will be outfitted with reboost capacity for the International Space Station for the first time.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2026
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Certain brands offer pants in a range of sizes, like Yogipace's on-the-go pants and Baleaf's cargo joggers.—
Nicole Pyles,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Guo says the approach can be scaled up to much larger sizes suitable for load-bearing platforms.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
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There are loads of cool details hidden throughout the set, too, with refuelling pipes and a moving bridge that connects the tower to the Orion module.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Thousands of protesters met in front of City Hall in the afternoon, before many marched to the federal detention center, where a mob of violent agitators swarmed the area, pushing a large construction dumpster and blocking the entrance to the building's loading dock.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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On January 21st, an ICE vehicle pulled into the loading dock of the high school; in a video of the incident, taken from a classroom window, students can be overheard in a hubbub of jeering, incredulity, and fear.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Designed, tested, and deployed for the electronic warfare battlefield, V-BAT delivers ISR and targeting at significantly lower cost and logistical burden than larger Group 4 and 5 drones.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Feb. 2026
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The housing cost burden falls more heavily on renters than owners.—
Kristen Taketa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Payload.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payload. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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