propel

verb

pro·​pel prə-ˈpel How to pronounce propel (audio)
propelled; propelling

transitive verb

: to drive forward or onward by or as if by means of a force that imparts motion

Examples of propel in a Sentence

He grabbed him and propelled him through the door. The train is propelled by steam.
Recent Examples on the Web This funding, aimed at propelling the EV charging infrastructure in the state, signifies a significant investment in Universal EV Chargers' unwavering commitment to offering convenient and accessible charging solutions for electric vehicle users. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024 That propels the aluminum-and-carbon-fiber chassis from a dead stop to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 All-Star wing Jaylen Brown scored 19 points in the first quarter alone to propel Boston to 44-22 lead after the first quarter. Sam Joseph, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 By weaving a robust Digital Thread through product development, manufacturing, supply chain, and outbound logistics, the company has propelled organizations in automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and medical devices toward realizing significant ROI. Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Action rooted in wisdom and clarity propels us forward with purpose and intention. Mark Travers, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Taylor Swift and Beyoncé not only helped AMC Theatres weather a slow holiday movie season, the singers’ AMC-exclusive concert films actually propelled the multiplex chain to exceed expectations. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024 Los Angeles has been shooting the ball well as of late and Head Coach Darvin Ham has finally gone back to the starting lineup that propelled them last season — and it’s worked. Esfandiar Baraheni, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 This week, Nvidia’s market cap surged to $1.8 trillion, propelling it to the position of the fourth-largest company globally by market capitalization, surpassing both Amazon and Alphabet in the process. Kylie Robison, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'propel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English propellen "to drive away, expel," borrowed from Latin prōpellere "to push or thrust forward, compel to go onward," from prō- "before, in front" + pellere "to beat against, push, strike, rouse, expel" — more at pro- entry 2, pulse entry 1

First Known Use

1558, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of propel was in 1558

Dictionary Entries Near propel

Cite this Entry

“Propel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propel. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

propel

verb
pro·​pel prə-ˈpel How to pronounce propel (audio)
propelled; propelling
: to push or drive usually forward or onward
a bicycle is propelled by pedals
propelled by the crowd

More from Merriam-Webster on propel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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