propulsion
Americannoun
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the act or process of propelling.
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the state of being propelled.
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a means of propelling; propelling force, impulse, etc.
noun
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the act of propelling or the state of being propelled
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a propelling force
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of propulsion
1605–15; < Latin prōpuls ( us ) (past participle of prōpellere to propel ) + -ion
Explanation
The act of moving something forward is called propulsion. Propulsion is the force that pushes a rocket into space, that sends a football spiraling toward a receiver's hands, and that moves a strongly kicking swimmer through the water. The noun propulsion came from the Latin prōpellere, "to push away." The modern meaning of propulsion meaning "the act of moving forward" was first recorded in 1799. In water, flippers, fins, and the wind can aid propulsion. In a general sense, if society is to move forward, we must stop using fossil fuels as our main means of propulsion.
Vocabulary lists containing propulsion
Power Prefix: pro
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Freak the Mighty
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The Wednesday Wars
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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.
The propellant was originally designed for chemical propulsion systems.
From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026
The White House wants to put nuclear propulsion systems into orbit as soon as 2028.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
The country will become just the second to receive Washington's elite nuclear propulsion technology, after the UK which began receiving it decades ago.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
The noble gas—completely colorless, odorless, and tasteless—is used in rocket propulsion.
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
Scared ’em so much they agreed to put propulsion in our own little separate category.”
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
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.
