expel

[ ik-spel ]

/ ɪkˈspɛl /

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verb (used with object), ex·pelled, ex·pel·ling.

to drive or force out or away; discharge or eject: to expel air from the lungs; to expel an invader from a country.

to cut off from membership or relations: to expel a student from a college.

Nearby words

expedite, expediter, expedition, expeditionary, expeditious, expel, expellant, expellee, expeller, expellers, expend

Origin of expel

1350–1400; Middle English expellen < Latin expellere to drive out, drive away, equivalent to ex- ex-¹ + pellere to push, drive

SYNONYMS FOR expel

2 oust, dismiss, exile, excommunicate.

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Related formsex·pel·la·ble, adjectivere·ex·pel, verb (used with object), re·ex·pelled, re·ex·pel·ling.un·ex·pel·la·ble, adjectiveun·ex·pelled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for expel

They wanted to expel the demons which they believed caused impure thoughts.
Beaten By His Church for Being Gay|Justin Jones|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They expel difficult students and refuse to admit students that public schools have to admit—like kids with disabilities.
Hunger Games Comes to New York State’s Public Schools|Zephyr Teachout|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Simultaneously, a brigade of mercenaries and Congolese soldiers would seal off the city and expel the guerrillas.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After investigating the case and bringing together all of the evidence I moved to expel him from the Senate.
And Now Mitch McConnell Is the ‘Pro-Woman’ Candidate!|Eleanor Clift|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

As an Ebola patient slips from bad to worse to dire, he can expel as many as two and a half gallons of effluvia a day.
Ebola Nurses Are As Brave As Soldiers|Michael Daly|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you are determined to expel all comfort from your house, be a Drunkard; and you will soon do it effectually.
Select Temperance Tracts|American Tract Society
"I cannot expel the passion that rankles in my blood," Basil interposed darkly.
Under the Witches' Moon|Nathan Gallizier
Lying is like Nature, you may expel her with a fork, but she will always come back again.
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler|Samuel Butler
Pumps were no longer of any use to expel the water, for pump as one might, the water kept pouring in.
Peasant Tales of Russia|V.I. Nemirovitch-Dantchenko
Joyeuse now called on the citizens of Nismes to lay down their arms, to expel all the refugees, and to receive a garrison.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots|Henry Baird

British Dictionary definitions for expel

expel

/ (ɪkˈspɛl) /

verb -pels, -pelling or -pelled (tr)

to eject or drive out with force

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

Derived Formsexpellable, adjectiveexpellee (ˌɛkspɛˈliː), nounexpeller, noun

Word Origin for expel

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for expel

expel

late 14c., from Latin expellere "drive out," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + pellere "to drive" (see pulse (n.1)). Meaning "to eject from a school" is first recorded 1640s. Related: Expelled; expelling.

expel

verb (used with object), ex·pelled, ex·pel·ling.

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Nearby words

Origin of expel

Examples from the Web for expel

British Dictionary definitions for expel

expel

verb -pels, -pelling or -pelled (tr)

Word Origin for expel

Word Origin and History for expel

expel