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
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
Unlike its predecessors, which use a ski-jump flight deck for aircraft takeoffs, the Fujian is equipped with electromagnetic catapults, enabling it to launch heavier aircraft.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Aisha Nyandoro, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
But there are genuine stories behind it all, the player who worked at it, overcame adversity, made fruitful decisions, catapulted the competition, and the family who facilitated it, team behind the dream.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for catapult
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Noun
During the drills the Fujian for the first time conducted aircraft take-off and landing operations at sea using its advanced electromagnetic catapult system (EMALS), regional defense officials said.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
Unlike its predecessors, which use a ski-jump flight deck for aircraft takeoffs, the Fujian is equipped with electromagnetic catapults, enabling it to launch heavier aircraft.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Verb
The momentum to catapult all young people into a promising financial future is growing beyond local initiatives.
—Aisha Nyandoro, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
But there are genuine stories behind it all, the player who worked at it, overcame adversity, made fruitful decisions, catapulted the competition, and the family who facilitated it, team behind the dream.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 June 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 5 Jul. 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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