pro ‧ pel /prəˈpel/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle propelled , present participle propelling ) [transitive]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: propellere , from pellere 'to drive' ]
1 . to move, drive, or push something forward ⇨ propulsion :
a boat propelled by a small motor
One of our students was unable to propel her wheelchair up the ramp.
propel yourself along/through etc
She used the sticks to propel herself along.
2 . written to make someone move in a particular direction, especially by pushing them:
He took her arm and propelled her towards the door.
3 . to move someone into a new situation or make them do something
propel somebody to/into something
The film propelled her to stardom.
Company directors were propelled into action.