as in airports
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.
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Recent Examples of launchpads
The room is supposed to be a charming gathering nook where my family can hang out, not a control room outfitted with complex launchpads.
—
Jill Kargman,
Architectural Digest,
16 June 2026
At that point, SpaceX had two launchpads, allowing the company to return to flight in January 2017.
—
Wendy Whitman Cobb,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Gates 5 and 10 are the only launchpads for more than 10 percent of Kentucky Derby winners.
—
Peter Keating,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
College graduates earn significantly higher lifetime incomes, have access to better healthcare, and are far more likely to achieve upward social mobility — because their degrees serve as proxies for experience and are favored by employers, these credentials are career launchpads.
—
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
The majority of the biggest rounds across the sector have been for startups based in those two countries, with both emerging as key launchpads into new markets and battlefield training.
—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
11 Dec. 2025
Once reliable job launchpads in gateway fields such as finance, consulting, and journalism now routinely demand two or more years of prior experience.
—
Bruno V. Manno,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Or the way Karl Lagerfeld turned Grand Palais into supermarkets, icebergs, and rocket launchpads.
—
Karissa Mitchell,
Essence,
17 Aug. 2025
Jill Kargman,
Architectural Digest,
16 June 2026
At that point, SpaceX had two launchpads, allowing the company to return to flight in January 2017.
—
Wendy Whitman Cobb,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Gates 5 and 10 are the only launchpads for more than 10 percent of Kentucky Derby winners.
—
Peter Keating,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
College graduates earn significantly higher lifetime incomes, have access to better healthcare, and are far more likely to achieve upward social mobility — because their degrees serve as proxies for experience and are favored by employers, these credentials are career launchpads.
—
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
The majority of the biggest rounds across the sector have been for startups based in those two countries, with both emerging as key launchpads into new markets and battlefield training.
—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
11 Dec. 2025
Once reliable job launchpads in gateway fields such as finance, consulting, and journalism now routinely demand two or more years of prior experience.
—
Bruno V. Manno,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Or the way Karl Lagerfeld turned Grand Palais into supermarkets, icebergs, and rocket launchpads.
—
Karissa Mitchell,
Essence,
17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for launchpads
Noun
-
In airports, outside hotels and inside stadiums, Haitians wore their national colors and proudly waved their flags.
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From congested lines for TSA screenings to ever-changing departure times and hard-to-find gates, airports can trip up even the most experienced travelers.
Noun
-
These pads smooth pores, reduce blackheads, and keep oil under control.
-
These easy-to-use toning pads help exfoliate, refine the appearance of pores and reduce excess oil for a smooth, clear complexion.
Noun
-
For amphibious groups such as the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, that means greater situational awareness while operating far from shore and without dependence on nearby airfields.
-
Trump publicly soured on Meloni during Operation Epic Fury, when Italy refused to help with the war and forbade the use of its airfields for logistical assistance.
Cite this Entry
“Launchpads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/launchpads. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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