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
Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
He was awarded a citation for courage and meritorious service after an explosion in the USS Leyte aircraft carrier’s port catapult machinery room while it was stationed in the South Boston Naval Annex, his family said.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
For Cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn — this moment marks the beginning of a new chapter, one that could bring significant milestones and opportunities that catapult them forward.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catapult
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Noun
The Fujian, which has a displacement of more than 80,000 tons in full load, features an advanced aircraft launching system with electromagnetic catapults, similar to the United States Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, enabling it to launch heavier combat aircraft.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
He was awarded a citation for courage and meritorious service after an explosion in the USS Leyte aircraft carrier’s port catapult machinery room while it was stationed in the South Boston Naval Annex, his family said.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
Then came Prohibition and bootlegging, which catapulted them into new spheres of social and political influence.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
For Cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn — this moment marks the beginning of a new chapter, one that could bring significant milestones and opportunities that catapult them forward.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 20 Mar. 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 Apr. 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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