soft-launch

English

Alternative forms

• soft launch

Etymology

From soft launch.

Verb

soft-launch (third-person singular simple present soft-launches, present participle soft-launching, simple past and past participle soft-launched)

1. (transitive, marketing) To release (a product or service) to a limited audience.

   Coordinate term: hard-launch

2. (transitive, informal) To announce (a romantic relationship) or reveal (one's romantic partner) in a subtle or ambiguous manner.

   Coordinate term: hard-launch

   • 2021 January 14, Alex Zaragoza, “Bow Down to Lori Harvey, the Queen of Dating”, in Vice‎^[1]:

     You might soft-launch a new partner in an Instagram Story, or in the background in the fourth pic in a carousel, but a cute couple shot front and center on the main feed informs your most dedicated DMers that the club is closed to new members until further notice.

   • 2023 August 28, Hanna Lustig, “Bad Bunny Soft-Launched Kendall Jenner Relationship With NSFW Photo Dump”, in Glamour‎^[2]:

     Bad Bunny seemingly soft-launched his fling with Kendall Jenner on his Instagram Stories over the weekend, and I for one will go down with this ship.