launch
verb (used with object)
to set (a boat or ship) in the water.
were launching
-
past progressiveof launch.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Newspapers were launching glossy weekend magazines, turning pop stars and artists into an new breed of classless celebrity.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
And millennials — many who had to weather the Great Recession of 2008-09 just as they were launching their careers — are feeling the pain.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 10, 2026
Minnesota officials said Friday they were launching their own investigation into the fatal shooting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
Escobar said the mayor’s staff instructed the fire department to say that they were launching a “comprehensive review and overhaul” of procedures for tracking the hours of department staff on union leave.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2025
At the same time, it found that people were launching their news apps 39 percent more each month.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
