catapult

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

|Updated on: 4 Jul 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

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
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

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

Both made 11th-hour pushes on National Signing Day to catapult their classes to rank among the nation's best.

— jordan mcpherson, miamiherald, "Florida recruiting battles this year could be 'fascinating.' Here's where things stand," 25 June 2018
And in honor of Germany’s Garden Day on Monday, Google has created a fun garden gnome interactive game for its homepage, giving users the chance to catapult the folklore icons into their gardens to earn flower points.

— fiza pirani, ajc, "What is Garden Day? Google pays ode to Germany’s Garden Day with interactive garden gnome game," 11 June 2018
In an effort to catapult Uber to the front of the autonomous-vehicle arms race, Uber acquired Otto Trucking in August 2016, buying a team filled with former employees of Alphabet’s self-driving car unit.

— Fortune, "Who’s Winning the Self-Driving Car Race?," 31 May 2018
Officials in Hawaii are also watching for more explosive eruptions from Kilauea's summit crater, where steam buildup also has the potential to catapult large rocks at high speed.

— National Geographic, "Why Blue Flames Are Now Burning at Kilauea," 24 May 2018
Unlike the public response to the Prospect Park steer, there are rarely outcries when lab animals escape, not even when monkeys find a way to use tree branches to catapult themselves over the tall electric fence that was containing them.

— Longreads, "Wild At Heart," 17 May 2018
President Trump is pushing the benefits of the GOP tax overhaul at a roundtable with business leaders in Cleveland Saturday, as Republicans attempt to use the law to catapult their way to victory in the midterms this fall.

— CBS News, "Trump touts tax law in Cleveland — live updates," 5 May 2018
But despite the opportunity to catapult their careers with the quick release of a subsequent album and barrage of touring, the Canadian folk trio did just the opposite.

— chris bieri, Anchorage Daily News, "Wailin’ Jennys bring their trademark lush harmonies to 4 Alaska cities this week," 26 Apr. 2018
By contrast, the teeterboard act seemed shaky, with four acrobats, taking turns jumping on a see-saw to catapult their somersaulting partners into the sky.

— piet levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Review: Cirque du Soleil's 'Corteo' soars at BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee," 30 Mar. 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

CATAPULT Defined for Kids

catapult

noun cat·a·pult \ ˈka-tə-ˌpəlt \

Definition of catapult for Students

1 : an ancient military machine for hurling stones and arrows

2 : a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship

catapult

verb

Definition of catapult for Students

catapulted; catapulting

1 : to throw by or as if by a catapult

She catapulted herself out of the door.
—Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy

2 : to quickly advance

The movie role catapulted her to fame.

Learn More about catapult

See words that rhyme with catapult Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for catapult Spanish Central: Translation of catapult Nglish: Translation of catapult for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of catapult for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catapult

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catapult

Definition of catapult

Recent Examples of catapult from the Web

Illustration of catapult

Origin and Etymology of catapult

Other Military Terms

catapult

Definition of catapult

Examples of catapult in a Sentence

Recent Examples of catapult from the Web

First Known Use of catapult

catapult Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases

Other Military Terms

CATAPULT Defined for English Language Learners

catapult

Definition of catapult for English Language Learners

catapult

Definition of catapult for English Language Learners

CATAPULT Defined for Kids

catapult

Definition of catapult for Students

catapult

Definition of catapult for Students

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