expel

verb ex·pel \ ik-ˈspel \

Definition of expel

expelled; expelling

transitive verb

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

—

expellable

play \ik-ˈspe-lə-bəl\ adjective

See expel defined for English-language learners

See expel defined for kids

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 of expel from the Web

The prospect of expelling Germany from the region and taking control themselves was enough to entice Japan to join the fight against Germany, making the Great War a global one in 1914.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The Surprisingly Important Role China Played in WWI," 17 Aug. 2017
If Democratic and Republican lawmakers truly reject the ideology that paraded through the streets of Charlottesville, the only logical conclusion is to expel it from their own halls and chambers as well.

— matt ford, The Atlantic, "The Statues of Unliberty," 14 Aug. 2017
His only reward is not being expelled from the Citadel.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 3: 12 Things to Know About "The Queen's Justice"," 31 July 2017
Seven months ago, then-President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the U.S. and took away access to a couple of vacation homes/spy compounds used by Russian diplomats here in response to election-hacking allegations.

— heather hulburt, Daily Intelligencer, "How Will Trump Handle Putin’s Disappointment?," 31 July 2017
When Nazi persecutions drove Jews from Europe in the 1930s, many took refuge there (as they had done when expelled from Spain in 1492), particularly in the province of Jerusalem.

— The Economist, "If the Ottoman Empire had not collapsedHad the Ottoman Empire been saved rather than sunk," 13 July 2017
The demands include Qatar shutting down news outlets, including the media network Al-Jazeera, cutting ties with Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, limiting ties with Iran and expelling Turkish troops stationed in the country.

— adam schreck and maggie hyde, chicagotribune.com, "Top U.S. diplomat lands in Qatar, hoping to help end Gulf rift," 11 July 2017
A spokesman comes out of the president’s office and gives the students a deadline for leaving the building or they’ll be arrested and expelled.

— fred dickey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "How coddling and cocooning today's youths can lead to violence," 8 July 2017
This month, CMS expelled the Hagerstown nursing home from Medicare and Medicaid after citing it for more violations.

— jordan rau, Kaiser Health News, "Half The Time, Nursing Homes Scrutinized On Safety By Medicare Are Still Treacherous," 6 July 2017

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.

Did You Know?

To expel is to drive out, and its usual noun is expulsion. Expel is similar to eject, but expel suggests pushing out while eject suggests throwing out. Also, ejecting may only be temporary: the player ejected from a game may be back tomorrow, but the student expelled from school is probably out forever.

Origin and Etymology of expel

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

expel Synonyms

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

Synonym Discussion of 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

EXPEL Defined for English Language Learners

expel

verb

Definition of expel for English Language Learners

: to officially force (someone) to leave a place or organization
: to push or force (something) out

EXPEL Defined for Kids

expel

verb ex·pel \ ik-ˈspel \

Definition of expel for Students

expelled; expelling

1 :to force to leave

He was expelled from school.

2 :to force out

expel air from lungs

Word Root of expel

The Latin word pellere, meaning “to cause to move” or “to drive,” gives us the root pel. Words from the Latin pellere have something to do with driving or causing something to move. To propel is to drive forward. To compel is to drive someone to do something. To expel is to drive out. To repel is to drive back or away.