# propel

> English word · Verb · IPA /pɹəˈpɛl/ · frequency rank #23,640

## Definitions
1. To provide an impetus for motion or physical action; to cause to move in a certain direction; to drive or push forward.
2. To provide an impetus for nonphysical change; to cause to arrive to a certain situation or result.

## Etymology
From Middle English propellen (“drive out, expel”), from Latin propellō, from pro- (“forward”) and pellō (“I push, I move”).

## Easily confused with
- **prove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-prove)
- **props** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-props)
- **prose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-prose)
- **prowl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-prowl)
- **proper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-proper)
- **proved** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-proved)
- **proven** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-proven)
- **proves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-proves)
- **prophet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-prophet)
- **prosper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-prosper)
- **properly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propel-vs-properly)
- **pope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pope-vs-propel)
- **prop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prop-vs-propel)
- **probe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/probe-vs-propel)
- **prone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prone-vs-propel)
- **pooped** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pooped-vs-propel)
- **pooper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pooper-vs-propel)

## Common misspellings (9)
`porpel`, `ppropel`, `proepl`, `propell`, `prople`, `proppel`, `prpoel`, `prropel`, `rpopel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/propel