springboard

1 of 2

noun

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

… Ueberroth is denying claims that he will use the Games as a springboard to high political office.

—Ray Kennedy

springboard

2 of 2

verb

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

2

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

Fortunately I got the approval, and that springboarded the work.

—Andrew Grant

Examples of springboard in a Sentence

Noun

The news served as a springboard for a class discussion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Using this competition as a springboard could be as important now as in March, when the final takes place. —Art De Roché, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024

This one was constructed by the Rocky Mountain Raclette company as a springboard for Heather to discuss her Mormon missionary work in the south of France. —Kinsey Jasnoch, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024

Verb

Time spent being judged and mentored by Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie could springboard a career already achieving acclaim. —Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 25 Feb. 2024

Yet, in distancing himself from Clinton, Gore forfeited the chance to springboard off an incumbent who was actually fairly popular at the time. —Ian Prasad Philbrick, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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