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
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
When an operator at the front needs one a drone is launched from a catapult and flies automatically to the specified area.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2025
Israel’s most recent election, in 2022, catapulted Smotrich to greater power.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for catapult
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The badge shows an illustration of the Fujian's electromagnetic catapults launching two aircraft.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
When an operator at the front needs one a drone is launched from a catapult and flies automatically to the specified area.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
Her purchase came one year before The Oprah Winfrey Show aired nationally and catapulted her to a different level of national acclaim and recognition.
—Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2025
Israel’s most recent election, in 2022, catapulted Smotrich to greater power.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 30 May 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 6 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share