Illustration of catapult
- catapult 1
cat·a·pult
ˈka-tə-ˌpəlt 
-ˌpu̇lt
1
: an ancient military device for hurling missiles
2
: a device for launching an airplane at flying speed (as from an aircraft carrier)
catapulted; catapulting; catapults
: to throw or launch by or as if by a catapult
: to become catapulted
he catapulted to fame
Examples of catapult in a Sentence
Verb
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 on the Web
Matthew Bodner, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
In comparison, the US Navy’s aircraft carriers still await electromagnetic catapults to launch F-35 stealth fighters.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
The rookie's historic gem catapulted the New York Yankees into the American League Division Series, knocking out their archrival Boston Red Sox in the process.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catapult
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Noun
The dramatic thump of the ship’s four electromagnetic catapults which shoot them into the sky is constant and can be heard throughout the ship.
—Matthew Bodner, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
In comparison, the US Navy’s aircraft carriers still await electromagnetic catapults to launch F-35 stealth fighters.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
Eden played the titular 2,000-year-old genie named Jeannie opposite Larry Hagman's astronaut Tony Nelson, with the show catapulting the two costars into television history, thanks to their onscreen chemistry.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
The rookie's historic gem catapulted the New York Yankees into the American League Division Series, knocking out their archrival Boston Red Sox in the process.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catapult
Cite this Entry
“Catapult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catapult. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
catapult
1 of 2 noun
cat·a·pult
ˈkat-ə-ˌpəlt
-ˌpu̇lt
1
: an ancient military device for hurling missiles
2
: a device for launching an airplane (as from the deck of an aircraft carrier)
catapult
2 of 2 verb1
: to throw or launch by or as if by a catapult
2
: to become catapulted
he catapulted to fame
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