First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
propel
verb pro·pel \prə-ˈpel\
: to push or drive (someone or something) forward or in a particular direction
pro·pelledpro·pel·ling
Full Definition of PROPEL
transitive verb
: to drive forward or onward by or as if by means of a force that imparts motion
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Origin of PROPEL
Middle English propellen, from Latin propellere, from pro- before + pellere to drive — more at felt
Rhymes with PROPEL
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, expel, 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, 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
PROPELS Defined for Kids
propel
verb pro·pel \prə-ˈpel\
pro·pelledpro·pel·ling
Definition of PROPEL for Kids
: to push or cause to move usually forward or onward
Word Root of PROPEL
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: propellablePrevious Word in the Dictionary: prop boyAll Words Near: propel
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