ENGLISH
REFERENCE

expel

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɪkˈspɛɫ// UK //ɛkspˈɛl// ex·pel Archaic

v. to officially force someone to leave a school, organization, or country because they did something wrong. It can also mean to push air, liquid, or gas out of your body.

v. to officially force a person to leave an institution or country; to force out or eject a substance from a body or container. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

The school decided to expel the student for cheating.

CONTEXTUAL

The government may expel foreign diplomats if they are found to be engaging in illegal activities.

COMPLEX

The engine is designed to expel exhaust gases through a specialized filtration system to minimize the release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

Synonyms
Origin

Late Middle English: from Latin expellere, from ex- (“out”) + pellere (“to drive”).

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. When referring to people, it often takes the preposition 'from'.

Pitfall

He was expelled of the schoolHe was expelled from the schoolThe verb 'expel' takes the preposition 'from' when indicating the place or group someone is forced to leave.

© 2026 English Reference