Meaning & use
launch
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To start or introduce something new, such as a product, project, or business.
Grammar: Takes an object: launch a campaign.
Patterns
- launch something
- launch something on something
The company will launch its new phone in March.
She launched a business from her garage.
Police launched an investigation into the fire.
verbtransitive
To send a rocket, missile, or boat into the air, space, or water.
Grammar: Takes an object: launch a rocket.
Patterns
- launch something into something
Engineers launched the satellite into orbit.
They launched the lifeboat from the beach.
The navy launched a new ship on Saturday.
verbintransitive
To begin something with energy, especially an attack or a speech.
Grammar: Followed by into or at: launch into a story.
Patterns
- launch into something
- launch at someone
He launched into a long explanation.
She launched at him with angry words.
The speaker launched into her favorite topic.
nouncountable
The act of starting or introducing something, or of sending a rocket or boat off.
Grammar: Plural is launches; often followed by of.
Patterns
- the launch of something
- launch date
The launch of the rocket was delayed by weather.
We attended the book launch on Friday.
The launch date has not been announced.
Word forms
| third person singular | launches |
|---|---|
| past tense | launched |
| past participle | launched |
| -ing form | launching |
Common combinations
- launch a product
- They plan to launch a product next month.
- launch a rocket
- Scientists launch a rocket from the coast.
- launch an investigation
- Officials launched an investigation.
- launch a campaign
- The charity launched a campaign for clean water.
- launch into
- She launched into a speech.
- officially launch
- The library will officially launch its app.
Synonyms and how they differ
- start
- Start is the plain everyday word, while launch suggests a deliberate public beginning.
- introduce
- Introduce means bring something new to people, while launch adds a sense of a big start.
- initiate
- Initiate is formal and stresses making a process begin.
- fire
- Fire is used for weapons and rockets, and suggests forceful sending.
Opposites
Word family
- launcher noun
- a device that launches something
- launching noun
- the act of launching
- relaunch verb
- to launch again
- launchpad noun
- a platform for launching rockets
- prelaunch adjective
- before a launch
Commonly confused: launch or lunch?
launch vs lunch
Lunch is a midday meal, and it is easy to mix up with launch in writing.
Practice
The agency will ___ the weather satellite into orbit next Tuesday.
Choose one answer.
Launch means send a rocket or satellite into space. Land is tempting but means to come down, not to send up.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “launch”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.