as in pad
an area from which a rocket is launched
—often used figuratively
The TV cameras were focused on the launchpad as the time for liftoff approached. The program she hosted on local radio was the launchpad for her network career.
Related Words
Relevance
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 launchpad
The companies that will win the next wave of AI adoption will be the ones that turn privacy into a launchpad and trust into their unfair advantage.
—
Jagbir Kaur, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Kudos to Davis, for cultivating a cultural haven that became a launchpad for excellence and a beacon of resilience in an underserved community.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Driving from New York City to JFK, for example, can often take an hour or longer, but Blade said a helicopter ride from the company's launchpad in Manhattan to the airport takes just 5 minutes.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2025
This course bundle is a solid launchpad for aspiring cyber pros or curious tech minds who want to stay ahead of today’s threats.
—PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for launchpad
Jagbir Kaur, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Kudos to Davis, for cultivating a cultural haven that became a launchpad for excellence and a beacon of resilience in an underserved community.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Driving from New York City to JFK, for example, can often take an hour or longer, but Blade said a helicopter ride from the company's launchpad in Manhattan to the airport takes just 5 minutes.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2025
This course bundle is a solid launchpad for aspiring cyber pros or curious tech minds who want to stay ahead of today’s threats.
—PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for launchpad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for launchpad
Noun
-
The pad has enough traction to stay in place and can be removed and hand-washed when necessary.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
-
But in its July update, P&G only disclosed that included narrowing the variety of its feminine pads in Asia and trim some overseas product offerings for the company's Oral Care, Fabric Care and Grooming businesses.—
Alexander Coolidge,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Authorities emphasize that airport and airline security measures are crucial to preventing unauthorized access to aircraft.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Philip Taldo, an airport board member and Arkansas Highway Commission chairman, said the airport access road to the airport is 67% complete with dirt work almost done and some paving underway.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even a small peninsula could host a basic airfield and seaport to facilitate the movement of people and aid, severing Gaza’s unhealthy dependency on Israel and Egypt.—
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib,
The Atlantic,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Other military support aircraft were also seen on the airfield.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ukraine begged former President Joe Biden and German leaders to no avail to provide long-range missiles that could hit distant Russian aerodromes and eliminate strategic bombers at the source.—
Trudy Rubin,
Twin Cities,
8 June 2025
-
Ukraine begged former President Joe Biden and German leaders to no avail to provide long range missiles that could hit distant Russian aerodromes and eliminate strategic bombers at the source.—
Trudy Rubin,
Mercury News,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Launchpad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/launchpad. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share