Meaning & use
propel
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To drive or push something forward with force.
Grammar: It takes an object and often a direction: propel a boat across the lake.
Patterns
- propel something forward
- propel something through something
Strong legs propelled the sprinter off the starting line.
A small engine propels the boat across the lake.
The oars propelled the canoe quietly down the river.
verbtransitivefigurative
To push a person or group into a new situation or state, often a successful one.
Grammar: Often followed by to or into: propelled to fame, propelled into politics.
Patterns
- propel someone to something
- propel someone into something
One hit single propelled the singer to fame.
Anger over the closure propelled her into local politics.
The scholarship propelled him into a career in medicine.
Word forms
| third person singular | propels |
|---|---|
| past tense | propelled |
| past participle | propelled |
| -ing form | propelling |
Common combinations
- propel forward
- The wind propelled the sailboat forward.
- propel to fame
- The film propelled her to fame.
- propel into action
- The news propelled them into action.
- propel a vehicle
- Electric motors propel the vehicle silently.
- propelled by
- The rocket is propelled by burning fuel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- drive
- Drive is the more general everyday word, while propel often points to the force that moves something.
- thrust
- Thrust suggests a sudden, hard push, whereas propel can be smooth and continuous.
- launch
- Launch implies sending off at the start, while propel describes the driving force itself.
- catapult
- Catapult is a vivid word for a very sudden, dramatic rise, stronger than propel.
Opposites
Word family
- propeller noun
- a rotating device with blades that pushes a ship or aircraft
- propellant noun
- a substance that pushes something, such as rocket fuel
- propulsion noun
- the force that drives something forward
- propulsive adjective
- able to drive something forward
Commonly confused: propel or impel?
propel vs impel
Impel means to urge someone strongly to act, whereas propel usually concerns physical movement or momentum.
Practice
The success of her first novel ___ her to international fame.
Choose one answer.
Propelled to fame means pushed her quickly into fame. Preceded is a tempting look-alike but means came before.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “propel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.