launched; launching; launches
1
a
: to throw forward : hurl
launched an arrow at a target
b
: to release, catapult, or send off (a self-propelled object)
launch a rocket
2
a
: to set (a boat or ship) afloat
b
: to give (a person) a start
launched her on a new career
d
: to load into a computer's memory and run
launch a program
1
a
: to spring forward : take off
The catapult snagged and the plane overturned before it could launch.
b
: to enter energetically
launched into an impromptu speech—
Tim Tucker
Tim Tucker2
a
archaic
: to slide down the ways
b
: to make a start
had launched on his hour of study—Hallam Tennyson
Hallam Tennyson1
: a large boat that operates from a ship
2
: a small motorboat that is open or that has the forepart of the hull covered
Synonyms
Examples of launch in a Sentence
Verb
The enemy launched an attack at sunrise.
She's trying to launch a new career as a singer.
The police have launched an investigation into his activities.
He helped launch her in her career as a singer.
The company is expected to launch several new products next year.
You can launch the program by double-clicking on the icon.
Recent Examples on the WebDon Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2024
Reliance Jio launched in India in 2016, providing free 4G data, voice calls, and SMS for six months, with a view to attracting 100 million subscribers.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
Voyager 2, launched two weeks before Voyager 1, is now about 13 billion miles from Earth, the two crafts’ trajectories having diverged somewhere around Saturn.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Beginning with the new 2024-25 FAFSA launched late last year, a student’s total income is only based on data from federal income tax returns.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
The European Union launched an investigation into China’s procurement of medical devices, the latest in a spate of actions that are raising tension ahead of President Xi Jinping’s first visit to the bloc in five years.
—Alberto Nardelli, Fortune Asia, 24 Apr. 2024
Def Jam Africa launched across French-speaking markets on the continent in 2020.
—Marc Schneider, Billboard, 24 Apr. 2024
The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes launched in 1977 on a mission to study Jupiter and Saturn but continued onward through the outer reaches of the solar system.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Sphere has also hosted concerts, with U2 inaugurating it with a 40-show residency that launched on Sept. 29, 2023.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 23 Apr. 2024
Steff Yotka, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
The site is often used as a launch for for whitewater rafting trips along the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon, according to park officials.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
Each pair of earrings represents the essence of the visionary women behind the collection’s launch.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 25 Apr. 2024
No launch date set Blue Origin has not announced a launch date yet.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
But the launch of the infusion program won’t be delayed because of fundraising efforts.
—James A. Jones Jr., Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024
Cohen added that the Rare Impact Fund has raised more than $13 million since its launch, which supports 26 organizations in supporting young people.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 24 Apr. 2024
The items featured in this year’s launch are all outdoor decorations—and yes, that includes the infamous 12-foot skeleton that makes Halloween headlines every year.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
The movie launches in 51 overseas territories over the weekend, followed by 14 additional countries in early May.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
Verb
Two batters later, Burmeister launched an inside fastball over the left-field wall.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2024
Reliance Jio launched in India in 2016, providing free 4G data, voice calls, and SMS for six months, with a view to attracting 100 million subscribers.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
Voyager 2, launched two weeks before Voyager 1, is now about 13 billion miles from Earth, the two crafts’ trajectories having diverged somewhere around Saturn.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Beginning with the new 2024-25 FAFSA launched late last year, a student’s total income is only based on data from federal income tax returns.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
The European Union launched an investigation into China’s procurement of medical devices, the latest in a spate of actions that are raising tension ahead of President Xi Jinping’s first visit to the bloc in five years.
—Alberto Nardelli, Fortune Asia, 24 Apr. 2024
Def Jam Africa launched across French-speaking markets on the continent in 2020.
—Marc Schneider, Billboard, 24 Apr. 2024
The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes launched in 1977 on a mission to study Jupiter and Saturn but continued onward through the outer reaches of the solar system.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Sphere has also hosted concerts, with U2 inaugurating it with a 40-show residency that launched on Sept. 29, 2023.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 23 Apr. 2024
Noun
This launch follows a 2022 collaboration with Kim Jones at Dior Men, branded California Couture.
—Steff Yotka, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
The site is often used as a launch for for whitewater rafting trips along the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon, according to park officials.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
Each pair of earrings represents the essence of the visionary women behind the collection’s launch.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 25 Apr. 2024
No launch date set Blue Origin has not announced a launch date yet.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
But the launch of the infusion program won’t be delayed because of fundraising efforts.
—James A. Jones Jr., Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024
Cohen added that the Rare Impact Fund has raised more than $13 million since its launch, which supports 26 organizations in supporting young people.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 24 Apr. 2024
The items featured in this year’s launch are all outdoor decorations—and yes, that includes the infamous 12-foot skeleton that makes Halloween headlines every year.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
The movie launches in 51 overseas territories over the weekend, followed by 14 additional countries in early May.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'launch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near launch
Cite this Entry
“Launch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
launch
1 of 3 verb
ˈlȯnch 
ˈlänch
1
a
: to throw or spring forward : hurl
launch a spear
b
: to send off an object especially with force
launch a rocket
c
: to set a ship afloat
2
a
: to put in operation : begin
launch an attack
b
: to give a person a start
c
: to make a start especially energetically
launcher
noun
launch
2 of 3 noun
: an act of launching
launch
3 of 3 noun
: a small motorboat that is open or that has the front part of the hull covered
Etymology
Verb
Middle English launchen "to launch, hurl," from an early French dialect word launcher (same meaning), from Latin lanceare "to use a lance"
Noun
from Spanish or Portuguese lancha "a boat used to go to and from a large ship"
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