propel

[pruh-pel]

verb (used with object)

propelled, propelling 

1. to drive, or cause to move, forward or onward.

   to propel a boat by rowing.

   Synonyms: prod, push

2. to impel or urge onward.

   Urgent need of money propelled him to take a job.

   Synonyms: prod, push

propel

/ prəˈpɛl /

verb

1. (tr) to impel, drive, or cause to move forwards

Other Word Forms

• unpropelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of propel¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English propellen “to expel,” from Latin prōpellere “to drive forward,” from prō- pro- ¹ + pellere “to drive, push, strike”

Word History and Origins

Origin of propel¹

C15: from Latin prōpellere to drive onwards, from _pro- ¹ + pellere to drive

Example Sentences

Mr Teal pointed to continued AI adoption and lower interest rates as two key aspects of the economic backdrop that need to remain intact in order to keep propelling stocks to new highs.

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But the one word slogan that propelled Labour to a landslide win at last year's general election could come back to haunt the party in Wales: change.

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One day it’s a chocolate-chocolate chip cruise missile, nuclear propelled and nuclear tipped.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mrs. Clarke cried as she propelled herself from one task to the next.

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And for the first time in history, enormous steamships regularly crossing the world’s oceans outnumbered vessels propelled by sail.

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Related Words

• drive 
• push 
• send 
• shoot 
• thrust