type
noun / verb
pronounced
/soft-launch/
emerged
recent
status
mainstream

soft launch

   strategic

the one-line answer

Subtly introducing a new partner on social media without explicitly announcing them.

Soft launch is when you appear with someone in the background of a photo before officially announcing the relationship. A hand. A shadow. Part of an arm. You are testing the waters.

mainstream

Your coworker might use this word.

01 / in the wild

hear it move.

description
she soft launched him. just his hand in a restaurant photo.
She subtly included her new partner in a photo without officially announcing the relationship.
03 / don't confuse

similar, not the same.

soft launch

Soft launch is subtle introduction

vs
hard-launch

Hard launch is full public announcement.