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
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
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
-
The breaches come as the air travel industry has been dealing with an onslaught of cyberattacks that have caused disruptions for customers and ground some of the world’s largest airports to a halt.—
Martin Goillandeau,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
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Add Miami International Airport to the list of airports that aren’t airing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s video blaming Democrats for the ongoing shutdown of the federal government.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The tailgate lift went up and down countless times over the next hour, loading 20 trunks that included everything from SDSU’s iconic football helmets, jerseys, pads and cleats to coach communications and video equipment to massage tables and the popup tent players go into when injured.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Oct. 2025
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The dock takes care of the gross stuff with hot water mop washing, self-cleaning, and warm-air drying, so you’re not left scrubbing dirty pads by hand.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Supplying Tomahawk missiles, which can travel 1,500 miles, could enable Ukraine to hit targets deep inside Russian territory, including military bases, logistics hubs, airfields, and command centers.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
12 Oct. 2025
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The island’s ports and airfields now serve as critical hubs for refueling, resupply, and surveillance.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Launchpads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/launchpads. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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