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

• 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

Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has earned a reputation as a hardliner on immigration, an image that helped propel her to power amid rising nationalist sentiment and debate over Japan’s identity amid demographic decline. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025

The Texas native has yet to look like the best version of himself, but still helped propel his team late. —Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Students, administrators, C-suite executives and more, each attesting to how my road map propelled them to put one foot in front of the other and enter a season of triumph. —Alma Cooper, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025

The newspaper industry, again and again, has flubbed its chance to propel itself into the future. —David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 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