catapult

American  

[kat-uh-puhlt, -poolt] / ˈkæt əˌpʌlt, -ˌpʊlt /

noun

catapults plural

1. an ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc.

2. a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship.

3. British. a slingshot.

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verb (used with object)

catapults, present (3rd person singular) catapulted, past participle, past catapulting present participle

1. to hurl from a catapult.

2. to thrust or move quickly or suddenly.

   His brilliant performance in the play catapulted him to stardom.

   Synonyms:

   shoot, pitch, propel, fling, throw

3. British.

   1. to hurl (a missile) from a slingshot.

   2. to hit (an object) with a missile from a slingshot.

verb (used without object)

catapults, present (3rd person singular) catapulted, past participle, past catapulting present participle

1. to be catapulted.

2. to move or spring up suddenly, quickly, or forcibly, as if by means of a catapult.

   The car catapulted down the highway. When he heard the alarm he catapulted out of bed.

catapult British  

/ ˈkætəˌpʌlt /

noun

1. US and Canadian name: slingshot.  a Y-shaped implement with a loop of elastic fastened to the ends of the two prongs, used mainly by children for shooting small stones, etc

2. a heavy war engine used formerly for hurling stones, etc

3. a device installed in warships to launch aircraft

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verb

1. (tr) to shoot forth from or as if from a catapult

2. to move precipitately

   she was catapulted to stardom overnight

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• catapultic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• catapults
  plural

Participles

• catapulting
  present
• catapulted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• catapult
  simple
• catapults
  simple
• have catapulted
  perfect
• has catapulted
  perfect
• am catapulting
  progressive
• are catapulting
  progressive
• is catapulting
  progressive
• have been catapulting
  perfect progressive
• has been catapulting
  perfect progressive

Past

• catapulted
  simple
• had catapulted
  perfect
• was catapulting
  progressive
• were catapulting
  progressive
• had been catapulting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will catapult
  simple
• will have catapulted
  perfect
• will be catapulting
  progressive
• will have been catapulting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of catapult

1570–80; < Latin catapulta < Greek katapéltēs, equivalent to kata- cata- + péltēs hurler, akin to pállein to hurl

Explanation

A catapult is something that hurls things through the air, like a catapult that sends pumpkins flying in an annual Halloween competition. To pronounce catapult, accent the first syllable: "CAT a pult." Catapult can also be a verb that means "to hurl or shoot forward." It's not only objects that catapult. A hit single can catapult a band to great fame, for example, or a high score may catapult you into first place. Just don't catapult any cats. That would catapult you to notoriety, and probably also to jail.

Example Sentences

For Walmart, the bottom line matters because its tech-like growth story, which has helped catapult its share price to 43 times forward earnings, is predicated on growing operating profits faster than revenue.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

This year’s debates have done little to catapult anyone to the top, and tonight was more of the same.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

Gu, who had a poor second run and risked finishing out of the medals, came back strongly, scoring 89.00 with her final effort to catapult her into the silver medal position.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

A fight against the tough and experienced Australian Johnson could then catapult Francesca on to the world stage and show that her viral fame is backed by serious boxing ability.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Fury had swung her aft catapult to fire back at the city, but she lacked the range; the barrels of pitch were shattering under the walls.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• slingshot