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
One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
SpaceX additionally benefits from billions of dollars in contracts from NASA and the Department of Defense by providing launch services for classified satellites and other payloads.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
With both Navy and Coast Guard vessels able to store and launch various types and sizes of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, there are no limits on new operational possibilities in terms of unleashing explosive payloads at sea.
—Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 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
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
SpaceX additionally benefits from billions of dollars in contracts from NASA and the Department of Defense by providing launch services for classified satellites and other payloads.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
With both Navy and Coast Guard vessels able to store and launch various types and sizes of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, there are no limits on new operational possibilities in terms of unleashing explosive payloads at sea.
—Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 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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The cargo variant targets heavier logistics.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
AutoFlight says these features and its large seating and cargo capacity will make the aircraft suitable for everything from recreational travel, logistics operations, and large-scale emergency response missions.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Jensen will get to learn from Perez and won’t have to shoulder the entire catching load.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
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Over time, those items take up space, demand storage, and add mental load.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Temporary one-time, 24-hour, oversized vehicle permits are available under the 2021 ordinance for special circumstances such as new vehicles, guests, or unloading and loading.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
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That strike started over the weekend at the port’s main jetties, with protesters disrupting the loading and unloading of containers and cargo.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Following appropriate rules of engagement is the burden of the government agent.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
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The leadership burden won’t fall exclusively on the young players’ shoulders.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Payload.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payload. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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