Word
eject
/ɪˈdʒɛkt/
Definitions
01to force someone to leave
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to force someone to leave a building or a place because they are causing trouble.
v. to compel a person to leave a premises or area, often due to a violation of rules or disruptive behavior.
“Security had to eject the rowdy fan from the stadium during the second half.”
“The management reserved the right to eject any patron whose conduct interfered with the safety or enjoyment of other guests.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice when describing the person being removed.
02to remove from a machine
B1 · Intermediate Computing
v. to make something come out of a machine, like a disc from a computer or a tape from a player.
v. to cause an object to be discharged or released from a mechanical device or electronic hardware.
“Don't forget to eject your USB drive before you unplug it from the laptop.”
“The automated system failed to eject the disc, requiring a manual override to retrieve the stored data.”
Usage
Commonly used as a command in software interfaces.
Antonyms
03to exit an aircraft
B2 · Upper Intermediate Technical
v. to suddenly leave a plane using a special seat, usually because the plane is going to crash.
v. to forcefully escape from an aircraft using an ejection seat, typically during an emergency.
“The pilot was forced to eject just seconds before the plane hit the ground.”
“Following the engine failure, the flight crew followed emergency protocols and prepared to eject over the uninhabited forest.”
Usage
Often used as an intransitive verb in aviation contexts.
04sports penalty
B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports American English
v. to order a player to leave a game because they broke the rules.
v. to officially disqualify a player from a match and order their removal from the field of play.
“The referee decided to eject the player after he started a fight on the field.”
“The league office reviewed the footage and upheld the official's decision to eject the defender for unsportsmanlike conduct.”
Teaching tip
In British English, 'send off' is the standard term for this action in sports like football.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Brittany Landry, who believed she saw Kariem ejected from the rollercoaster, told Fox News she was in tears.” “As the giant CD is ejected out of the player and lifts up so the crowd can see her for the first time, you’ll believe you can hear God.” Etymology
From Middle French éjecter, from Latin ēiectus, perfect passive participle of ēiciō (“to throw out”), or from ēiectō, the frequentative form of the same verb, from ē-, combining form of ex (“out”), + iaciō (“to throw”).
From Latin ēiectum (“(that which is) thrown out”), from ēiciō (“to throw out”) (see Etymology 1). Coined by W. K. Clifford by analogy with subject and object.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/eject