catapult

1 of 2

noun

cat·​a·​pult ˈka-tə-ˌpəlt How to pronounce catapult (audio)
-ˌpu̇lt
Synonyms 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)

Illustration of catapult

Illustration of catapult
  • catapult 1

catapult

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms of catapult

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Verb

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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
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
Popping meds, whether by catapult or tweezers, became the norm. — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026 To churn out thousands of those spacecraft each year, Musk called for a colossal catapult to be built on the lunar surface. — Leonard David, Space.com, 28 May 2026
Verb
The film catapulted Sara and her costars — Matthew Broderick, Alan Tuck, and Jennifer Grey — to new echelons of fame. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026 But survival there was impossible; like her cousin Kal-El, or Superman, before her, Kara was placed in a pod and catapulted to Earth for her safety, along with her scampish dog, Krypto. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for catapult

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French or Latin; Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Greek katapaltēs, from kata- + pallein to hurl

First Known Use

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1848, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of catapult was in 1577

Rhymes for catapult

See All Rhymes for catapult

Browse Nearby Words

cataplexy
catapult
cataract
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catapult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catapult. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

catapult

1 of 2 noun
cat·​a·​pult ˈkat-ə-ˌpəlt How to pronounce catapult (audio)
-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 verb
1
: to throw or launch by or as if by a catapult
2
: to become catapulted
he catapulted to fame

More from Merriam-Webster on catapult

Nglish: Translation of catapult for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catapult

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