catapult

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

Updated on: 9 May 2018

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

Middle French or Latin; Middle 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

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

Battle royale games have officially catapulted into the industry's pole position, largely fueled by the neck-and-neck popularity contest between PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) and Fortnite: Battle Royale.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "As PUBG-like contenders emerge, Islands of Nyne might already have them beat," 19 Apr. 2018
The 46-year-old has catapulted Burnley into top six contention in the Premier League, a feat which could become reality should the Clarets complete the league double over Chelsea at Turf Moor on Thursday.

— SI.com, "Sean Dyche Insists 'Old School' Burnley Side Embody Modern Footballing Values," 19 Apr. 2018
Pro-Trump online personalities Diamond and Silk have been catapulted onto the national stage.

— emma grey ellis, WIRED, "Mark Zuckerberg's Testimony Birthed an Oddly Promising Memepocalypse," 11 Apr. 2018
But under Trump, Bolton’s bellicosity has catapulted him into the most important foreign policy position in the White House.

— ishaan tharoor, Washington Post, "The return of John Bolton paves the way for more war," 26 Mar. 2018
Losing Kate has catapulted Stephen back to his own childhood.

— david wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle, "In search of lost time and children on PBS," 24 Mar. 2018
One Parkland student, Emma Gonzalez, has catapulted into the national spotlight for her passionate and strident appeal for change.

— Fox News, "1968 LA school walkout protesters see link to Parkland teens," 12 Mar. 2018
Excerpts from a book about the 12-year-old male lion’s last hours have catapulted him back into the news, more than 2 1/2 years after he was killed by Minnesota dentist and big-game hunter Walter Palmer, who was never prosecuted.

— cynthia billhartz gregorian, kansascity, "New details of Cecil the Lion's death spark fresh outrage | The Kansas City Star," 6 Mar. 2018
The Patriots’ 34-28 overtime victory catapulted Edelman’s reception into the pantheon of clutch plays.

— ben shpigel, The Seattle Times, "A hero, until he wasn’t: Jermaine Kearse relives his spectacular Super Bowl catch that faded into history," 3 Feb. 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