expel

ex·pel

transitive verb \ik-ˈspel\

ex·pelledex·pel·ling

Definition of EXPEL

1

: to force out : eject <expelled the smoke from her lungs>

2

: to force to leave (as a place or organization) by official action : take away rights or privileges of membership <expelled from college>

— ex·pel·la·ble \-ˈspe-lə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of EXPEL

1. The club may expel members who do not follow the rules.
2. She was expelled from school for bad behavior.
3. expel air from the lungs

Origin of EXPEL

Middle English expellen, from Latin expellere, from ex- + pellere to drive — more at felt

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to EXPEL

Synonyms

banish, boot (out), bounce, cast out, chase, dismiss, drum (out), eject, extrude, kick out, oust, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) [chiefly British], turn out

Antonyms

inbreathe, inhale, inspire

Related Words

deforce, deport, displace, dispossess, evict, exile, expatriate, ostracize, read out, shut out; ax (or axe), can, cashier, defenestrate, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate

Near Antonyms

accept, admit, receive, take, take in; welcome; entertain, harbor, house, lodge, shelter

See Synonym Discussion at eject

Rhymes with EXPEL

band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, compel, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, dispel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, rappel, Ravel, rebel, refel, repel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, spinel, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell