propel

verb

pro·​pel prə-ˈpel 

propelled; propelling

transitive verb

: to drive forward or onward by or as if by means of a force that imparts motion

Synonyms of propel

• push
• shove
• drive
• thrust

Examples of propel in a Sentence

He grabbed him and propelled him through the door.

The train is propelled by steam.

Recent Examples on the Web

Steph Curry left his imprint on the night, dropping 20 of his 31 total points in the third quarter to propel Golden State to its sixth game in its last eight tries. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2026

That season, his performances helped propel Espanyol to promotion up to the Spanish top flight. —Pol Ballús, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026

Mizuho projected that a one-year delay in tariff increases could propel shares of Wayfair higher. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026

January’s energy is moving quickly for you, almost as if the universe is opening a series of doors all at once, and the Eight of Wands brings a surge of momentum that propels you into plans or conversations that had previously been stalled. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English propellen "to drive away, expel," borrowed from Latin prōpellere "to push or thrust forward, compel to go onward," from prō- "before, in front" + pellere "to beat against, push, strike, rouse, expel" — more at pro- entry 2, pulse entry 1

First Known Use

1558, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for propel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

propel

verb

pro·​pel prə-ˈpel 

propelled; propelling

: to push or drive usually forward or onward

a bicycle is propelled by pedals

propelled by the crowd