# eject

/ɪˈdʒɛkt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eject
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to force someone to leave

verb · CEFR B2

to force someone to leave a building or a place because they are causing trouble.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. to remove from a machine

verb · CEFR B1

to make something come out of a machine, like a disc from a computer or a tape from a player.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to exit an aircraft

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to suddenly leave a plane using a special seat, usually because the plane is going to crash.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. sports penalty

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to order a player to leave a game because they broke the rules.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The committee decided to eject the speaker from the room.
- The security guard had to eject the passenger from the plane after he refused to follow the safety rules.
- In a high-stakes negotiation, the lead mediator may be forced to eject a representative who is consistently obstructing the progress of the talks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.