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

Her flight aboard New Shepard lasted around 10 minutes, as the rocket fired its engines to propel Benthaus and her five crewmates to more than three times the speed of sound and soar past the Kármán Line. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025

The reusable New Shepard booster executed an on-target landing after propelling the New Shepard capsule out of the lower atmosphere. —William Harwood, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025

Pumped up with the brand’s thickest midsole, these deliver next-level cushioning and impact absorption to help propel you forward faster than ever. —Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025

These around 1,000-pound marine mammals move by swinging their tails in an up and down motion to propel themselves forward. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025

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