springboard

1 of 2

noun

spring·​board ˈspriŋ-ˌbȯrd 

plural springboards

1

: a flexible board usually secured at one end and used for gymnastic stunts or diving

2

: something that helps launch an activity, enterprise, etc.

… hopes motherhood will be the springboard that relaunches her stagnant acting career.

—Roy S. Johnson

… Ueberroth is denying claims that he will use the Games as a springboard to high political office.

—Ray Kennedy

springboard

2 of 2

verb

springboarded; springboarding; springboards

1

intransitive : to launch upward from or as if from a springboard

… cloud-scraping 60-meter punts pulling a half-dozen bodies skyward, each trying to springboard off the small of the other's back …

—Gary Smith

… the long line of players springboarding from the backwater minors to prime time.

—Ric Bucher

2

transitive + intransitive : to start or help start something (such as an activity or enterprise)

The company has spent heavily to establish a brand name and reputation from scratch, with no brick-and-mortar stores to springboard its efforts.

—Chris O'Malley

Fortunately I got the approval, and that springboarded the work.

—Andrew Grant

Examples of springboard in a Sentence

Noun

The news served as a springboard for a class discussion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bogner said the win can serve as a springboard for continued growth, while Grevers emphasized the program’s goal of returning to national prominence. —Noelle Anderson, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026

There’s two Loyola High athletes, sprinter Zion Phelps and 400 runner Ejam Yohannes, who hope to use Arcadia as a springboard to continue their early success this season. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026

Verb

The Trojans hope to springboard off their sectional title that was a quarter-century in the making and go further in the postseason after boosting their position in the Northwest Crossroads Conference. —Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

In recent years, his relationship with Swift helped springboard him into mainstream fame. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for springboard

• abhorred
• aboard
• accord
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard
• boxboard
• breadboard
• broadsword

Kids Definition

springboard

noun

spring·​board ˈspriŋ-ˌbō(ə)rd 

-ˌbȯ(ə)rd

1

: a flexible board usually fastened at one end and used for jumping high in gymnastics or diving

2

: a point of departure

a springboard to success in business