/ prəˈpel; NAmE / verb ( -ll- ) [ vn ] [ often passive ]
1.
to move, drive or push sth forward or in a particular direction :
mechanically propelled vehicles
He succeeded in propelling the ball across the line.
2.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to force sb to move in a particular direction or to get into a particular situation :
He was grabbed from behind and propelled through the door.
Fury propelled her into action.
—see also propulsion
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense expel, drive out ): from Latin propellere , from pro- forward + pellere to drive.