launch

Start a new activity or make a new product available to people.

• They launched a new website.
• The charity is launching a campaign to help families.
• When will you launch your business?

Similar words: start, introduce, begin

Opposites: end

Common phrases: launch a product, launch a campaign, launch a business

Send a rocket, balloon, or something it carries up from the ground into the air.

• They launched a rocket yesterday.
• The satellite was launched into space.
• Strong winds prevented us from launching the balloon.

How to use it: launch something into something (They launched a satellite into orbit.)

Similar words: send up

Common phrases: launch a rocket, launch a satellite, launch a balloon

Put a boat or ship into the water so it can float and move.

• We launched the boat at dawn.
• They launched their canoe from the beach.
• The new ship will be launched next week.

How to use it: launch something into something (They launched the canoe into the river.)

Similar words: set afloat

Common phrases: launch a boat, launch a ship, launch a canoe, launch a vessel

Throw or send something forward with force.

• He launched a stone across the river.
• She launched a dart at the target.
• The machine launches balls for the dog to catch.

How to use it: launch something at someone/something (He launched a snowball at the wall.)

Similar words: throw, hurl, fling

Common phrases: launch a dart, launch a stone, launch at someone

An event celebrating the start of a project or the arrival of a new product, book, or ship.

• We went to her book launch.
• The product launch attracted hundreds of guests.
• Who is coming to the launch tonight?

Similar words: launch party

Common phrases: book launch, product launch, launch party