expel

[ik-spel]

verb (used with object)

expelled, expelling 

1. to drive or force out or away; discharge or eject.

   to expel air from the lungs; to expel an invader from a country.

2. to cut off from membership or relations.

   to expel a student from a college.

   Synonyms: excommunicate, exile, dismiss, oust

expel

/ ˌɛkspɛˈliː, ɪkˈspɛl /

verb

1. to eject or drive out with force

2. to deprive of participation in or membership of a school, club, etc

Other Word Forms

• expellable adjective
• reexpel verb (used with object)
• unexpellable adjective
• expellee noun
• expeller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of expel¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English expellen, from Latin expellere “to drive out, drive away,” equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + pellere “to push, drive”

Word History and Origins

Origin of expel¹

C14: from Latin expellere to drive out, from pellere to thrust, drive

Example Sentences

Roman will have the resolution, sensitivity and infrared wavelength coverage to see these stars and potentially witness their variability as they expel out large quantities of dust near the end of their lives.

Read more on Science Daily

The relationship dates to the 1990s, when Qatar’s former emir offered Hamas members sanctuary after they were expelled from Jordan.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Islamabad accuses neighbouring Afghanistan of failing to expel militants using Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan, an accusation that authorities in Kabul deny.

Read more on Barron's

Using the energy from this rotation, M87* powers a particle jet expelled at nearly the speed of light, stretching across an immense 5,000 light-years.

Read more on Science Daily

"I was worried we were going to get expelled. But now I'm happy we're settled here in France," she says.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ban 
• banish 
• bar 
• dismiss 
• displace 
• eject 
• evict 
• exile 
• oust