First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
expel
verb ex·pel \ik-ˈspel\
: to officially force (someone) to leave a place or organization
: to push or force (something) out
ex·pelledex·pel·ling
Full Definition of EXPEL
transitive verb
1
: to force out : eject <expelled the smoke from her lungs>
2
: to force to leave (as a place or organization) by official action : take away rights or privileges of membership <expelled from college>
— ex·pel·la·ble \-ˈspe-lə-bəl\ adjective
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Origin of EXPEL
Middle English expellen, from Latin expellere, from ex- + pellere to drive — more at felt
Related to EXPEL
Synonym Discussion of EXPEL
eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out. eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action <ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar>. expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical <a student expelled from college>. oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion <police ousted the squatters>. evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home <evicted for nonpayment of rent>.
Rhymes with EXPEL
band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, compel, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, dispel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, rappel, Ravel, rebel, refel, repel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, spinel, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell
EXPEL Defined for Kids
expel
verb ex·pel \ik-ˈspel\
ex·pelledex·pel·ling
Definition of EXPEL for Kids
1
: to force to leave <He was expelled from school.>
2
: to force out <expel air from lungs>
Word Root of EXPEL
The Latin word pellere, meaning “to cause to move” or “to drive,” gives us the root pel. Words from the Latin pellere have something to do with driving or causing something to move. To propel is to drive forward. To compel is to drive someone to do something. To expel is to drive out. To repel is to drive back or away.
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Next Word in the Dictionary: expellant (noun)Previous Word in the Dictionary: expeditiveAll Words Near: expel
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