catapult

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

|Updated on: 15 Aug 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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Recent Examples of catapult from the Web

The robot is designed like a catapult to throw the ball to home plate.

— alec johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A robot built by Arrowhead students is throwing out the first pitch at the June 15 Brewers game," 15 June 2018
The two of them once passed two very happy weekends of courtship in attempts to reconstruct an ancient catapult called an onager.

— gideon lewis-kraus, WIRED, "The Blockchain: A Love Story—And a Horror Story," 18 June 2018
This 8,000 square foot inflatable water obstacle course and playground includes a catapult, climbing wall, trampoline, jungle gym, balance beam, bouncing dome, cyclone wheel and freefall wall with a slide.

— rod stafford hagwood, Sun-Sentinel.com, "9 hot South Florida events in July," 25 June 2018
Early testing of the carrier's plane-launching electromagnetic catapult failed in 2015, which was just one of several setbacks for a program that has been criticized by some lawmakers for a series of schedule delays and cost overruns.

— zachary cohen, CNN, "US Navy's most expensive warship just got even pricier," 15 May 2018
SpinLaunch, a startup building space catapults, just raised $35 million in funding from investors, including GV, Airbus, and Kleiner Perkins.

— polina marinova, Fortune, "This Futuristic Startup Raised $40 Million to Fling Heavy Objects Into Space," 15 June 2018
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

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

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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

Christian Eriksen had catapulted the Danes into an early lead on Thursday after a sumptuous strike on the half volley but after hitting the front Denmark wilted as the Aussies took control of proceedings.

— SI.com, "Denmark Boss Confident of Reaching Knockout Stages After Australia Draw But Admits Side Are Fatigued," 21 June 2018
Big Democratic wins in California could catapult House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

— chad pergram, Fox News, "Dems in danger of botching California's 'jungle primary'," 31 May 2018
That sort of catapulted my career in a whole different direction.

— beth shapouri, Marie Claire, "How Randi Zuckerberg Is Teaching Girls in Tech to Dream Big," 14 July 2017
And then there is Rae herself, who has been catapulted into a new level of fame as a result of the show.

— refinery29.com, "Issa Rae Finally Got An Emmy Nod & I Can't Stop Crying," 12 July 2018
Now as the #MeToo movement hits Germany, the language has been catapulted to the center of a national debate about gender equality.

— austin davis, USA TODAY, "#MeToo movement targets German language as sexist," 9 July 2018
The way Russia has played, its one own goal has not defined its success, but the late own goal for Iran has catapulted Team Melli to within a win of the knockout stage.

— jared young, chicagotribune.com, "Own goals are having a big impact in the 2018 World Cup," 21 June 2018
The rabbi noted that he has been catapulted to fame since his video went viral, and a number of moving experiences have resulted from it.

— elizabeth kratz, Jewish Journal, "Viral video star is an Orthodox education pioneer," 4 June 2018
The driver of the Toyota, Myrtha Merolus, 34, of Coral Springs, was catapulted out of her car and hospitalized with injuries that were life threatening, Baker said.

— tonya alanez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Motorcyclist dies after car turns into his path, police say," 10 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of catapult

1848

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

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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