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
-
Instead, the focus is on schedule reductions to regional and domestic mainline flights that do not travel between our hub airports.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Some food-safety inspections were temporarily suspended, trash piled up in national parks, federal landmarks and museums closed, and some airports shuttered checkpoints due to fewer Transportation Security Administration officers to screen passengers.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The slate coasters feature little pads to keep the smooth, rock material from scuffing your table.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The two mop pads, which are removable, oscillate and actually reach out beyond the circular form of the robot vacuum.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The only countries with large enough airfields and refueling stations were Guinea and Senegal.—
Time,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Ukraine sees them as a way to strike Russian command centers, logistics hubs, and airfields currently out of reach.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Launchpads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/launchpads. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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