propel

Language: en

🇺🇸 /prəˈpɛl/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, typically forward.; To cause someone to move or act in a particular way; to urge or drive forward by a strong force or motivation.; To launch or throw something forward with force.; To advance or promote something, such as a career, project, or idea, to a higher level or greater success.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: propels Past: propelled Past part.: propelled Pres part.: propelling

Collocations

propel forwardpropel intopropel someone to famepropel growthpropel the economy

Derivatives

propulsionpropellantpropellerpropulsive

Synonyms

drivepushthrustlaunchimpelshove

Antonyms

hinderimpederestrainhold back

Commonly confused

repel
EN: 'Repel' means to drive away or push back, the opposite of 'propel' which means to drive forward.
impel
EN: 'Impel' suggests an internal motivation or urge to act, while 'propel' emphasizes a physical or external force pushing something forward.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember to double the 'l' when adding suffixes: 'propelled', 'propelling' (not 'propeled' or 'propeling').

💬 Examples

  1. The engine propels the ship through the water.

  2. Her ambition propelled her to the top of the company.

  3. The catapult propelled the stone over the castle wall.

  4. The viral video propelled the unknown singer to international fame.