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.
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 launchpads
Or the way Karl Lagerfeld turned Grand Palais into supermarkets, icebergs, and rocket launchpads.
—
Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 17 Aug. 2025
Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for launchpads
Noun
-
The Austin and Midland airports are about 330 miles apart.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Using data, the company could identify when customers were stuck at airports due to flight delays.—
Matteo Atti,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This was the mid 1980s and tandem skydiving hadn’t been popularized yet, so his father, Roger, adjusted accordingly by stuffing carpet padding into the leg pads to stop him from fussing.—
Angelina Liu,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Avoid brushes, brooms, and vacuums with hard bristles, steel wool, scouring pads, and eraser sponges.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In June, Ukrainian forces destroyed or damaged dozens of Russian aircraft using small drones that were smuggled to the vicinity of Russian military airfields in trucks.—
Svitlana Vlasova,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The details matter as Emirates faces competition not just from Gulf rivals but also from private jets, which offer privacy and the hassle-free convenience of small airfields.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Launchpads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/launchpads. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share