catapult

noun cat·a·pult \ ˈka-tə-ˌpəlt , -ˌpu̇lt \

|Updated on: 6 Jun 2018

Examples: catapult in a Sentence

Definition of catapult

1 : an ancient military device for hurling missiles

2 : a device for launching an airplane at flying speed (as from an aircraft carrier)

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See catapult defined for kids

Recent Examples of catapult from the Web

In February 2017, authorities found a pot-hurling catapult south of the border fence, reported The Arizona Daily Star.

— don sweeney, sacbee, "Mom’s minivan held five kids – and 231 pounds of drugs, border agents say | The Sacramento Bee," 11 Apr. 2018
Israeli news outlets reported that Palestinians had built an ancient war machine — a trebuchet, or slingshot-like catapult — to hurl heavy stones or even burning tires at the Israeli side.

— david m. halbfinger, iyad abuheweila and isabel kershner, New York Times, "10 Killed in Gaza as Palestinian Protesters Face Off With Israeli Soldiers," 6 Apr. 2018
The scale of the catapult project was simply enormous.

— william gurstelle, Popular Mechanics, "The Legend of Ludgar the War Wolf, King of the Trebuchets," 1 May 2017
Children can also learn about catapult launches and watch marionette performances.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 20 Apr. 2018
Her profile — at the top of the adult entertainment world, before the affair — catapults ever higher.

— matthew ormseth, courant.com, "Stormy Daniels Will Bring Her Show To East Windsor Night Club In June," 16 Apr. 2018
Deck handlers have simulated moving an aircraft from the carrier’s aircraft elevators to a position on the ship’s catapult.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Sailors on Aircraft Carriers Could Guide Drones With a Wave of Their Hands," 26 Jan. 2018
Ideally, On My Block will be the catapult that makes the cast — most of whom hover around age 20 — the next class of Netflix talent.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "Your Guide To The Bright-Eyed & Bushy Tailed Cast Of On My Block," 27 Mar. 2018
The new ranking catapults Baylor back ahead of the University of Texas Southwestern, its Dallas rival.

— todd ackerman, Houston Chronicle, "Baylor College of Medicine ranks fifth-best at training primary care docs, U.S. News says," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catapult.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of catapult

Origin and Etymology of catapult

Medieval French or Latin; Medieval French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Greek katapaltēs, from kata- + pallein to hurl

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1577

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

catapult

verb

Definition of catapult

catapulted; catapulting; catapults

transitive verb

: to throw or launch by or as if by a catapult

intransitive verb

: to become catapulted

he catapulted to fame

See catapult defined for English-language learners

Examples of catapult in a Sentence

They catapulted rocks toward the castle.
The publicity catapulted her CD to the top of the charts.
The novel catapulted him from unknown to best-selling author.
He catapulted to fame after his first book was published.
Her career was catapulting ahead.

Recent Examples of catapult from the Web

Daly's third run of 224.874 mph would catapult him back in at No.

— andrew hussey, Indianapolis Star, "Conor Daly qualifies for the Indy 500: 'To get in is winning the race today'," 19 May 2018
The victory was all the more astonishing because she was catapulted into first place by the popular vote after the competition judges from other countries placed her third.

— New York Times, "‘Next Year in Jerusalem!’ In Israel, Eurovision Win Is Seen as a Diplomatic Victory, Too," 13 May 2018
The brand behind the subversive shirt, and its designer Demna Gvasalia were suddenly catapulted into star status … among the street-style set.

— sarah spellings, The Cut, "Is Fashion’s Trendiest, Troll-iest Brand Dead or Not?," 29 Mar. 2018
Amy Sherald was recently catapulted into the public eye, as the artist behind Michelle Obama’s iconic official portrait.

— vanity fair, Vanities, "Amy Sherald Has a Workspace That Nurtures Her Inner Child," 27 Mar. 2018
Paramount TV and Anonymous have also optioned the rights to Diksha Basu’s debut novel, The Windfall, the story of a humble, middle-class Indian couple who are suddenly catapulted into massive wealth.

— scott roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Loveless' Director Andrey Zvyagintsev Teams With Paramount on First TV Series," 1 Mar. 2018
Going into corners too fast resulted in the mass making the front wheels push, so the remedy was to go deeper and to brake harder earlier, taking entry a notch slower and catapulting out.

— andy mikonis, chicagotribune.com, "Driving the 707-horsepower Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in a word? SICK," 15 Sep. 2017
But the reforms helped to catapult China into the ranks of global economic powers.

— The Economist, "Opening the gatesChinese travellers of all sorts have become ubiquitous," 17 May 2018
After recreating two Lady Gaga makeup looks that catapulted her into the spotlight, the Vietnamese entrepreneur became a must-watch for makeup tutorial-lovers everywhere.

— kristin corpuz, Teen Vogue, "18 Asian Beauty Bloggers You Need to Follow," 9 May 2018

First Known Use of catapult

1848

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

catapult Synonyms

Synonyms

cast, chuck, dash, fire, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, launch, lob, loft, peg, pelt, pitch, sling, throw, toss;

Related Words

bowl, dart, flip, gun, hook, pass, roll, shoot;

buck, eject, impel, precipitate, project, propel, rifle, thrust;

Phrases

let fly;

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

CATAPULT Defined for English Language Learners

catapult

noun

Definition of catapult for English Language Learners

: an ancient weapon used for throwing large rocks
: a device for launching an airplane from the deck of an aircraft carrier

catapult

verb

Definition of catapult for English Language Learners

: to throw (something) with a catapult
: to cause (someone or something) to quickly move up or ahead or to a better position
: to quickly move up or ahead : to quickly advance to a better position