launchpads

noun

plural of launchpad
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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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 The risk is real because most launchpads are near a body of water. — Selam Gebrekidan, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 Some companies become launchpads for people who later build companies, lead teams or create new categories. — Aleksandr Yampolskiy, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026 SpaceX already operates its Starbase spaceport in rural Texas, as well as launchpads at government spaceports on the coasts of California and Florida. — Elizabeth Howell, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2026 At the same time, Venice remains one of the fall’s key launchpads for prestige movies, awards hopefuls and international titles looking to build momentum with distributors and buyers. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 With history, culture, and great places to eat, these quaint spots are ideal launchpads for exploring the natural beauty of the Golden State. — Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for launchpads
  1. airports
  2. pads
  3. airfields
  4. aerodromes
Noun
  • Ukrainian drones killed a woman in a Russian border region and disrupted flights at Moscow's airports, according to Russian authorities.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Houthis have repeatedly attacked airports and oil infrastructure across the kingdom with drones and missiles that can change direction during flight, posing a challenge to interceptors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of airports
Noun
  • Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb appeared to say something to Jackson as the lineman was taking his pads off.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • After Bolduc beat Daniil Tarasov through the pads for the first score in the tiebreaker, Fowler stopped Nate Danielson.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of pads
Noun
  • The system is intended for missions against targets such as logistics hubs, airfields, command posts, and other infrastructure.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
  • An International Civil Aviation Organization code, or better known as ICAO, is used to designate airfields.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of airfields
Noun
  • The former often requires irregular cargo like radar systems, missile launchers, helicopters, engineering gear, bridge-laying equipment, etc, delivered to areas with no existing aerodromes.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
Definition of aerodromes

Browse Nearby Words

launchpad
launchpads
launder
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Cite this Entry

“Launchpads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/launchpads. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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