Search

an ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc.
a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship.
British. a slingshot.
to hurl from a catapult.
to thrust or move quickly or suddenly:
His brilliant performance in the play catapulted him to stardom.
British.

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

to be catapulted.
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.
Contemporary Examples

At the age of 9, Daniel Radcliffe was catapulted towards Harry Potter and Hollywood immortality by a single, instinctive wink.
How Daniel Radcliffe Became Harry Potter And Other Masterpiece Theatre Tales Nico Hines October 28, 2013

It is a linguistic wish for the same kind of campaign that catapulted Barack Obama forward from the caucuses.
The Coronation That Wants to Be a Movement: Scenes From Hillary’s Iowa Steak Fry Ana Marie Cox September 14, 2014

And growing: The film’s release catapulted the movie tie-in version of the paperback back onto the top of bestseller lists.
Inside the Eat Pray Love Merchandising Machine Lauren Streib August 16, 2010

He catapulted into cinema from the Broadway musical world on the strength of his 2002 film version of Chicago.
Hollywood’s Nonsensical, Multibillion-Dollar Franchise Chris Lee May 17, 2011

The gang took aim at Dunn as he was catapulted from an inflatable cushion.
‘Jackass’ Star Ryan Dunn’s Wildest Moments The Daily Beast Video June 19, 2011

Historical Examples

Crying out, arms and legs flailing, the Chinaman catapulted toward Krenski—and just at the instant Krenski fired!
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, June, 1930 Various

The word was catapulted from him as though by a muscular convulsion.
The Harbor of Doubt Frank Williams

Their superscience had catapulted him past the war years into the future.
Restricted Tool Malcolm B. Morehart

From frozen mobility Lig-magte had catapulted into headlong attack.
Planet of the Damned Harry Harrison

Scarcely was I poised to strike, when the speeding prow ripped into us, and I was catapulted into the black water.
The Devil’s Own Randall Parrish

noun
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 US and Canadian name slingshot
a heavy war engine used formerly for hurling stones, etc
a device installed in warships to launch aircraft
verb
(transitive) to shoot forth from or as if from a catapult
foll by over, into, etc. to move precipitately: she was catapulted to stardom overnight
n.

1570s, from Middle French catapulte and directly from Latin catapulta “war machine for throwing,” from Greek katapeltes, from kata “against” (see cata-) + base of pallein “to toss, hurl” (see pulse (n.1)). As an airplane-launching device on an aircraft-carrier by 1927.
v.

1848, “to throw with a catapult,” from catapult (n.). Intransitive sense by 1928. Related: Catapulted; catapulting.