propel
Americanverb (used with object)
-
propels,
present (3rd person singular)
-
propelled,
past participle, past
-
propelling
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
propelsimple
-
propelssimple
-
have propelledperfect
-
has propelledperfect
-
am propellingprogressive
-
are propellingprogressive
-
is propellingprogressive
-
have been propellingperfect progressive
-
has been propellingperfect progressive
Past
-
propelledsimple
-
had propelledperfect
-
was propellingprogressive
-
were propellingprogressive
-
had been propellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of propel
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”
Explanation
To propel is to push or drive forward, like a sheep dog nipping at the heels of his flock to keep them moving. When you hear the verb propel, imagine the propeller on an airplane — that spinning thing on the front that pulls the plane forward. Or maybe think of the old proverb that goes, “Our passions are the winds that propel our vessel. Our reason is the pilot that steers her. Without winds the vessel would not move and without a pilot she would be lost.”
Vocabulary lists containing propel
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 12–15
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"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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Maniac Magee
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Aquila Power Catamarans switched from four motors to two to propel some of its boats, saving space on the back end.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The court's original 2024 ruling ordering the payout to Roh cited a 30 billion won slush fund her ex-president father used to propel SK Group's growth.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Kang and Putellas symbolise a powerful partnership which can help propel WSL football, as well as launch the club into one of Europe's powerhouses.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Beck said the acquisition of Iridium will propel Rocket Lab into the satellite communications business.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
We pushed against the rock to propel ourselves downward, the eerie glow of the plants lighting the way.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
At lower speeds, as in city traffic, you begin to hear the engine’s whispered revving in the perceptual background as it simultaneously propels the car and recharges the 22.7-kWh battery.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
Ultimately, the company may deserve it if the AI story propels high growth for longer.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
"It certainly propels you into a world of uncertainty. Life priorities realign - you simply want to survive."
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
From a tour that, according to Springsteen, was not planned, it will be interesting to see what direction this propels him in next.
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
The thought of our dog having to face intruders propels us inside.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Infineon shares have gained nearly 70% since January, riding a wave of investor fervor that propelled global semiconductor stocks to new highs on expectations that appetite for chips will continue to outpace supply.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Swelling anger in New York over rising living costs propelled the city’s first Democratic socialist mayor into office.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
But it was the release of Jurassic Park in the same year that propelled him to an elite level of worldwide fame.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
“Start Me Up,” the band’s best rocker since “Brown Sugar,” propelled the album to multiplatinum sales and shook stadiums around the world.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
But I still could feel the power and rectitude that propelled her out of the projects and into homeownership.
From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Ionescu scored 14 points in the first quarter, propelling the visitors to a 36-30 lead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
But in the end she added her name to the wave of Labour MPs nominating Andy Burnham as leader, propelling the former Greater Manchester mayor into Downing Street uncontested.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Alibaba on Wednesday saw its best single share-price gain in 10 months, as the broader Chinese tech sector revved higher after missing the rally propelling U.S.,
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
So rising property values were propelling people into millionaire status.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
Then I leap, throwing every ounce of muscle into propelling myself through the air.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
