platform

noun

plat·form ˈplat-ˌfȯrm

plural platforms

Synonyms of platform next

: a flat horizontal surface that is usually higher than the adjoining area: such as

(1)

: a raised flooring (such as a stage or dais)

… a great stack of chairs piled up on and about the musicians' platform …—

Joseph Conrad

From this official table on a raised platform … , Robert Thomas, the show's chairman, directs operations …—

Liz Horwitt

(2)

: an elevated area next to railroad tracks for the boarding of trains

The platform was crowded with waiting passengers.

: a device or structure incorporating or providing a platform

a viewing platform

specifically : such a structure on legs used for offshore drilling (as for oil)

: a declaration of the principles on which a group of persons stands

especially : a declaration of principles and policies adopted by a political party or a candidate

the Republican/Democratic platform

She's running (for office) on a platform of reform.

: a means or opportunity to communicate ideas or information to a group of people

The event provides a platform for Latino artists, writers and creators in the comic book industry.—

Sonia Ramirez

… a new understanding among the young of how celebrity now works, and the power of a personal brand as a marketing platform.—

Strawberry Saroyan

: the grounds or basis for further action

The company used the innovation as a platform for future growth.

or platform sole plural platform soles : a usually thick layer (as of cork) between the inner sole and outer sole of a shoe

or platform shoe plural platform shoes : a shoe having such a sole

computing

: operating system

also : the computer architecture and equipment using a particular operating system

: an application or website that serves as a base from which a service is provided

music streaming platforms

… has built a cloud-computing platform for use by others.—

The Economist

… billions of photos scraped from Facebook and other social media platforms.—

C. J. Ciaramella

: a vehicle (such as a satellite or aircraft) used for a particular purpose or to carry a usually specified kind of equipment

: a basic pattern (such as the chassis) upon which an automobile or class of automobiles is constructed

Based on the platform of Fiat's upmarket Alfa Romeo Giulietta, though wider and longer for American roads, it's all in all a much sexier compact than anything Chrysler has ever designed.—

Bill Saporito

obsolete : plan, design

Examples of platform in a Sentence

He stepped up onto the platform and looked out into the audience. She stepped off the train onto the platform. Our train is boarding on platform 6. The party adopted a new platform. The company plans to use the show as a platform to launch the new soft drink.

Recent Examples on the Web Apple was reportedly the platform’s largest advertiser, spending nearly $50 million in the first quarter of 2022. —

Eli Tan, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023 Fortune Your new car dealer: Amazon Amazon will allow U.S. auto dealers to sell on its e-commerce platform next year, starting with brands from Korean carmaker Hyundai. —

Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023 Since many couples want to share their weddings on social media, a videographer can also provide specific additional edits that are properly sized down for different platforms, as well as the full-length film. —

Shelby Wax, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023 In contrast with the precipitous fallings-off of platforms like Myspace and LiveJournal, the decays of which have been clear and irreversible, Tumblr has kept defying expectations and stayed somewhat thriving against all odds. —

Allegra Rosenberg, The Verge, 17 Nov. 2023 With social media platforms connecting people around the world, Rain believes his early hits could’ve gone viral. —

Liz Calvario, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023 Even before Musk took ownership of then-Twitter, experts worried that his particular brand of free speech absolutism would lead to a flood of trolls and hate speech on the platform. —

WIRED, 17 Nov. 2023 Strong is an ambassador for the Education and Science platform of United24, whose celebrity supporters have also included Barbra Streisand, Liev Schreiber, Mark Hamill and Katheryn Winnick. —

Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Nov. 2023 The Conflict’s Global Reach TikTok: More than a dozen Jewish TikTok creators and celebrities confronted the company in a private meeting with executives and other employees, urging it to do more to address a surge of antisemitism and harassment on its online platform. —

Patrick Kingsley Daniel Berehulak, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023 See More

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