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
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.
Noun (1)
the reporters held their collective breath as they silently watched the space shuttle's launch
we are at the launch of a new age of space exploration
Recent Examples on the Web
Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
By 2022, the organization had branched out into events, launching AmericaFest in 2022 with 10,000 attendees.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Dylan Butts,shreya Ghosal,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
In her euphoria, Wolfe perhaps misses the important red flags that this scenario sets out and instead embarks on a campus tour to recruit students that gives Tinder its all-important launch.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for launch
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
James has not been charged in the investigation, which was launched in April, and has denied wrongdoing.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
By 2022, the organization had branched out into events, launching AmericaFest in 2022 with 10,000 attendees.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
The iPhone 17 base model in particular has outperformed expectations, as the pricing at launch remained unchanged from its predecessor despite upgrades in memory storage, Chiew said.
—Dylan Butts,shreya Ghosal,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
In her euphoria, Wolfe perhaps misses the important red flags that this scenario sets out and instead embarks on a campus tour to recruit students that gives Tinder its all-important launch.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for launch
Cite this Entry
“Launch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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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