spring·board
ˈspriŋ-ˌbȯrd 
plural springboards
1
: a flexible board usually secured at one end and used for gymnastic stunts or diving
2
: something that helps launch an activity, enterprise, etc.
… hopes motherhood will be the springboard that relaunches her stagnant acting career.—
Roy S. Johnson
Roy S. Johnson… Ueberroth is denying claims that he will use the Games as a springboard to high political office.—Ray Kennedy
Ray Kennedy
springboarded; springboarding; springboards
1
intransitive
: to launch upward from or as if from a springboard
… cloud-scraping 60-meter punts pulling a half-dozen bodies skyward, each trying to springboard off the small of the other's back …—Gary Smith
Gary Smith2
transitive + intransitive
: to start or help start something (such as an activity or enterprise)
The company has spent heavily to establish a brand name and reputation from scratch, with no brick-and-mortar stores to springboard its efforts.—Chris O'Malley
Chris O'MalleyFortunately I got the approval, and that springboarded the work.—Andrew Grant
Andrew GrantExamples of springboard in a Sentence
Noun
The news served as a springboard for a class discussion.
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert Daugherty, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Becoming a certified public accountant proved a springboard for Sandy Torchia’s career.
—Greg McKenna, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2024
Lily Templeton, WWD, 11 Oct. 2024
It’s been nice to meet other filmmakers that are using their shorts to try and springboard them.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for springboard 
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Noun
Small-caps have significantly lagged their larger counterparts, creating a potential springboard for mean reversion.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Becoming a certified public accountant proved a springboard for Sandy Torchia’s career.
—Greg McKenna, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
The panel also addressed whether outside investment was truly necessary to springboard from domestic success to the international market.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 11 Oct. 2024
It’s been nice to meet other filmmakers that are using their shorts to try and springboard them.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for springboard
Dictionary Entries Near springboard
Cite this Entry
“Springboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/springboard. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
springboard
noun
spring·board
ˈspriŋ-ˌbō(ə)rd
-ˌbȯ(ə)rd
1
: a flexible board usually fastened at one end and used for jumping high in gymnastics or diving
2
: a point of departure
a springboard to success in business
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