propel

1 cause to move forward with force; "Steam propels this ship" [syn: impel]

2 give an incentive for action; "This moved me to sacrifice my career" [syn: motivate, actuate, move, prompt, incite] [also: propelling, propelled]

English

Etymology

Historically (late ) meant "expel, drive out". From propellere, meaning pro- "forward" and pellere "to drive".

Pronunciation

• Rhymes with: -ɛl

Verb

1. To cause to move, to surge forward.
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 265e.

     I can discern your nature and see that even without any arguments (logoi) from me it will propel you to what you say you are drawn towards,

Synonyms

• drive
• push
• move

Antonyms

• stay
• halt
• rest
• stop

Translations

Propel may refer to:

• A way to move something, see propulsion (disambiguation)
• Propel Fitness Water, a product from the makers of Gatorade
• Propel Accelerator, a web accelerator used by EarthLink
• Propel (PHP), an object-relational mapping solution for PHP

actuate, advance, animate, bowl, bunt, butt, compel, drive, drive on, egg on, energize, exhort, force, forward, foster, galvanize, get moving, give an impetus, give momentum, goad, impel, incite, launch, mobilize, motivate, move, move to action, nudge, pedal, pole, power, prick, prod, promote, prompt, push, put in motion, roll, row, send, set agoing, set going, set in motion, shove, shunt, spark, spur, start, stimulate, sweep, sweep along, thrust, treadle, troll, trundle, whip on