What does catapulting mean?
Catapulting is the present participle of the verb "to catapult," meaning to hurl or launch something suddenly and forcefully through the air, whether by a physical device such as an aircraft carrier's steam catapult or by any powerful impetus. In modern English it is used far more often figuratively than literally: people are catapulted into fame, prominence, or crisis, and events can catapult a topic onto the public agenda. The verb implies abruptness and considerable force — nothing is ever quietly or gradually catapulted. It appears frequently in journalism and sports commentary precisely because of this dramatic energy. The word derives ultimately from the Greek katapeltēs, a siege engine name built on kata ("down") and pallein ("to hurl or swing"), and it shares deep roots with Latinate verbs of motion such as propel and expel. Both literal and figurative uses remain current across British and American English.
verb (present participle and gerund of 'catapult')The act of hurling or launching something suddenly through the air, especially by mechanical means; figuratively, to propel someone or something abruptly into a new state, position, or situation.
- (Of an object) being hurled or launched suddenly through the air by a mechanical device or force.
- (Figurative) propelling a person or thing abruptly into a different position, status, or condition.
"The scandal was catapulting the little-known senator into the national spotlight."
"The trebuchet was catapulting boulders over the castle walls."
"Winning the Olympic gold was catapulting her from obscurity into international stardom."
The word 'catapult' comes from the Greek for 'to shake down on' — ancient siege engines that could fling a man-sized stone hundreds of yards gave us our everyday metaphor for sudden fame.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of catapulting
The verb "catapult" derives from the noun, which entered English in the early 17th century from French and Italian forms of Latin catapulta, itself borrowed from Greek katapeltēs, meaning a siege engine for hurling missiles. The Greek compound combines kata ("down") with pallein ("to toss, hurl, or swing"). The root pallein traces back to the Indo-European root *pel-, meaning to thrust or strike, which also underlies Latin pellere and its many descendants such as propel, expel, repel, and impulse.
Related word forms
How catapulting is actually used
"Catapulting" is most common in its figurative sense in modern journalism and everyday speech, typically followed by "into," "to," or "from...to." The literal military sense survives mainly in historical contexts. The verb carries connotations of speed and force — things are never gently catapulted.
Easily confused with catapulting
'Caterwauling' means making a shrill howling or wailing noise like a cat, while 'catapulting' means hurling or launching through the air — the similar opening syllables are coincidental.