as in pad
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 launchpad
Aphids spread quickly to nearby plants once established, meaning your rose bush can serve as a launchpad for a garden-wide infestation.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
Even so, Vietnam is only the launchpad for bigger ambitions—Indonesia, Portugal or India could be next.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
The big orange rocket that’s currently on the launchpad and the crew capsule on top of it are both designed by NASA and built by legacy contractors, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
For Iranian athletes who play in domestic-league games that aren’t broadcast internationally, the World Cup serves as a critical launchpad to impress international scouts.
—Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for launchpad
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
Even so, Vietnam is only the launchpad for bigger ambitions—Indonesia, Portugal or India could be next.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
The big orange rocket that’s currently on the launchpad and the crew capsule on top of it are both designed by NASA and built by legacy contractors, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
For Iranian athletes who play in domestic-league games that aren’t broadcast internationally, the World Cup serves as a critical launchpad to impress international scouts.
—Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for launchpad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for launchpad
Noun
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While those launches for now remain test missions from SpaceX’s launch site Starbase in Texas, the company continues to build out what will be its first operational launch tower at KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A adjacent to the pad from which Falcon Heavy will launch.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
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Demidov’s wrist shot met with a pad save.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After the Boeing 737 landed at the airport in San Diego, the pilot reported to the tower that the plane had possibly hit a drone while flying at about 3,000 feet.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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In one incident, Southall allegedly concealed the pair of shoes underneath his jacket before leaving the airport, per the warrant.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Five days a week, and sometimes weekends, the herding dogs punch the clock and go to work clearing birds and woodland creatures from the mountaintop airfield at CRW.—
Andrea Sachs,
Washington Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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Pellston Regional Airport in nearby Emmet County remains closed until at least April 28 because of high water flooding its airfield.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The base, which sat on a hill east of the city, in the Franconia region of northern Bavaria, was a former Luftwaffe aerodrome, and had been occupied by American forces in 1945 and renamed in 1947 to honor Captain John A. Leighton, a U.S. Army Air Forces officer killed in World War II.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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All eight films were shot at Leavesden, a converted World War II-era aerodrome, which is now the production home base for the upcoming series.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Launchpad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/launchpad. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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