propel
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has propelledperfect 3rd person singular
-
have propelledperfect
-
propelssingular 3rd person
-
are propellingprogressive
-
has been propellingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is propellingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
propellingparticiple
-
am propellingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been propellingperfect progressive
Past
-
had propelledperfect
-
were propellingprogressive plural
-
was propellingprogressive singular
-
had been propellingperfect progressive
-
propelledparticiple
-
propelledsimple
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.
This preparation was never about Curacao and Bolivia, it was about getting enough positivity to propel them into Haiti week.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
A typical EV motor uses strong, permanent magnets made from rare earths such as neodymium to spin the rotor and propel the car.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
Following a 50% drawdown from $500, a confirmed breakout above $500 could propel Tesla toward $730 by late 2027.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Cypress 8, Oaks Christian 2: Noah Johnson had three hits to propel Cypress into an elimination game against Sierra Canyon on Tuesday.
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026
But then Kaede reached down into the boat and lifted out a long oar, dipping it into the azure sea to propel the small craft away from the shore.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
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.
