expel

verb ex·pel \ ik-ˈspel \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

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Examples: expel in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

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

First the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Va., expelled White House press secretary Sarah Sanders —not exactly mobbing, but close: a territorial gesture meaning: Your kind is not welcome here.

— lance morrow, WSJ, "Political Harassment Is for the Birds," 6 July 2018
Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats over the matter, and 26 other countries followed suit.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Second Novichok poisoning in Britain raises alarm, questions over contamination," 5 July 2018
At least 26 other countries joined in retaliatory measures, also expelling Russian diplomats.

— washington post, BostonGlobe.com, "After latest nerve agent poisoning, Britain demands that Russia explain ‘what has gone on’," 5 July 2018
After the injuries appeared in Cuba, the Trump administration expelled 15 Cuban diplomats, saying Cuban officials had failed to adequately protect American diplomats.

— steven lee myers, New York Times, "More Americans Evacuated From China Over Mysterious Ailments," 30 June 2018
So, what’s occurring in your body to make your butt expel its contents so violently?

— korin miller, SELF, "Is Diarrhea Really a Sign of Early Pregnancy?," 16 June 2018
Ash expelled during explosions may cause poor visibility and slippery conditions for drivers.

— CBS News, ""A lot of tears": Lava destroys as many as 700 homes in Hawaii," 12 June 2018
The university permanently expelled the fraternity after the videos surfaced, Syverud said in a video statement.

— kwegyirba croffie, CNN, "Syracuse University suspends 15 fraternity members over 'extremely racist' video," 9 June 2018
In April, Syracuse permanently expelled the frat from campus.

— refinery29.com, "Syracuse Suspends 16 Students For Racist Theta Tau Fraternity Roast," 8 June 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.

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

expel Synonyms

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.