launch 1 of 2

verb

ˈlȯnch How to pronounce launch (audio)
Definition of launchnext
1
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of after retiring, he launched a small company devoted to making medical devices

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2
as in to begin
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) she launched a career in journalism after quitting acting school

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3
as in to throw
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm infantrymen launching grenades at the nest of machine gunners

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launch

2 of 2

noun

1
as in takeoff
a rising from a surface at the start of a flight (as of a rocket) the reporters held their collective breath as they silently watched the space shuttle's launch

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2
as in start
the point at which something begins we are at the launch of a new age of space exploration

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of launch
Verb
Skubal didn’t allow another baserunner until the sixth inning, when Sean Murphy launched a top-rail sinker for a solo homer. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026 Under his leadership, the department strengthened the community paramedic program and launched the Whole Blood Program, which allows paramedics to administer life-saving blood transfusions at the scene of an emergency. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
Beyond supplying payload deployment structures — the hardware that helps a satellite, sensor, solar array or other payload survive launch and then deploy correctly in space — Applied Aerospace manufactures the landing gear components. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 With Día de Muertos just a month away, outdoor footwear manufacturer Timberland is getting ahead of the Mexican holiday celebration with the launch of a new Premium 6-Inch waterproof boot pack made up of unique styles for men and women. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for launch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for launch
  1. establish
  2. begin
  3. throw
  4. takeoff
  5. start
  6. initiate
  7. commence
  8. hurl
Verb
  • The administration’s language would establish a range of mandatory minimum sentences based on the amount of loss involved in fraud schemes, according to the document.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Lafayette 148 will open its first Dallas boutique at NorthPark Center Tuesday, establishing a dedicated presence in the 30-year-old brand’s top five markets.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • Once the playoffs began, New York has looked like a different team, and twice blew out top-seed Minnesota to advance.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The White House originally said checks would begin in October, but the administration official told CNBC the first batch went out this Wednesday.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of begin
Verb
  • Bella chews him out for punching Angus in the face right before Angus’s big presentation, which Johnny knew about because they were supposed to throw a return supper for him, a dinner Johnny was supposed to cook.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Victories by Germany’s AfD in state elections have thrown the viability of the country’s government into doubt, while France’s National Rally is the odds-on favorite to win next year’s presidential election.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of throw
Noun
  • Northrop Grumman has completed the first fully autonomous flight of its YFQ-48A Talon Blue aircraft, covering taxi, takeoff, in-flight manoeuvres, and landing.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • All that means heavier construction and a sturdier undercarriage, which affects things like takeoff weight and operational range.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of takeoff
Noun
  • Bell is off to a fantastic start but will need to finish strong.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2026
  • That said, only seven teams in the Super Bowl era have rebounded from an 0-3 start to make the playoffs.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of start
Verb
  • New forms of payment, including digital currency, are working their way into everyday transactions, and AI is beginning to move from informing decisions to initiating and completing them.
    — Andy Zosel, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • That's the message in a Tuesday note from analysts at Melius who initiated coverage on the housing sector — putting a buy rating and a $397-per-share price target on Home Depot .
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of initiate
Verb
  • It has been known since the 1970s for yielding Roman artifacts, but an organized investigation did not commence until 2017, when geophysical surveys exposed a first-century fortification there.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The mountain, known to the Indigenous inhabitants of the region as the Six Grandfathers, was considered sacred, and construction commenced over the vehement objections of Native Americans.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of commence
Verb
  • When campaigning for parliament in 2024, Farage had a milkshake thrown at him by a woman and on another occasion objects were hurled towards his open-top bus by a man.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The disdain liberal media outlets hurl at her isn't because Sweeney defied their values.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurl

Browse Nearby Words

laughters
launch
launched
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Cite this Entry

“Launch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/launch. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on launch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about launch

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