expel

verb

ex·pel | \ik-ˈspel

expelled; expelling

Definition of expel

1 : to force out : eject expelled the smoke from her lungs

2 : to force to leave (a place, an organization, etc.) by official action : take away rights or privileges of membership was expelled from college

Other Words from expel Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about expel

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Choose the Right Synonym for expel

eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out. eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action. ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical. a student expelled from college oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion. police ousted the squatters evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home. evicted for nonpayment of rent

Examples of expel in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The timing coincides with the announcement by Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte on March 26 that his government was expelling two Russian diplomats. — Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica, "Russians tried to hack Swiss lab testing samples from Skripal attack," 17 Sep. 2018 During your period, your body is expelling the lining your uterus built up in case of a pregnancy. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Is There Any Reliable Way to Make Your Period Come Faster?," 11 July 2018 The records show that the department is expelling anyone who commits a serious crime or drinks alcohol during a shift. — Adam Ashton, sacbee, "Pay cuts for misbehavior and dozens of dismissals: Is Cal Fire's crackdown going too far? | The Sacramento Bee," 24 May 2018 The House can expel any member for disorderly behavior with a two-thirds vote under the Arizona Constitution. — Dustin Gardiner, azcentral, "Don Shooter seeks $1.3 million from House speaker, Ducey's chief of staff following removal," 16 Apr. 2018 On Thursday, the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said that Moscow was expelling 60 diplomats from the United States and shutting the American consulate in St. Petersburg. — Richard PÉrez-peÑa, New York Times, "Britain Signals Harder Look at Wealthy Russians and Russian Wealth," 29 Mar. 2018 The largest action came from Washington, which is expelling 60 Russians the U.S. identified as intelligence officers and closing a Russian consulate in Seattle that is close to a naval facility. — Gerard Baker, WSJ, "The 10-Point.," 27 Mar. 2018 Inhale for six whole seconds, expel that air, and record, very specifically, what your body is doing while this is happening. — Brennan Kilbane, GQ, "You’re Breathing All Wrong—Here’s How To Do It Right," 21 Mar. 2018 In the first trimester, a miscarriage typically takes several days to complete and for all fetal tissue to be expelled from the body. — Jennifer Gerson, Marie Claire, "How Long After a Miscarriage Can I Start Trying Again?," 1 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.