Dictionary

impel en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɪmˈpɛl/ (Received-Pronunciation, US)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English impellen, borrowed from Latin impellō.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation.
   • Concern for the common good should impel us to find ways to overcome the devilish impact of these disastrous policies […] 2016, Noam Chomsky, What Kind of Creatures Are We?, New York: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 61:
   • I feel impelled to reply to Roger Henry's letter about my article on being denied an apartment. I truly resent any insinuation that I "slunk back into that rotting old closet." 1976 August 28, Michael Shernoff, “No 'Rotting Closet'”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 9, page 5:
   • She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid,[…]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter II, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
2. (transitive) To drive forward; to propel an object, to provide an impetus for motion or action.
   • The wind impelled the kayaks toward the shore.

Forms

Antonyms

delay · retroact · get in the way · lessen · weaken · incommode · prevent · prohibit · forslow · restrict · intervene · retard · crimp · difficult · propel · expel · hinder · slow down · diminish · umbeset · foreclose · undermine · preclude · overslaugh · thwart · thwarten · hurt · reduce · obstruct · forestay · stay · blunt · retard · impede · dash · prevene · mar · restrain · handicap · frustrate · stymie · hold up · interfere · impair · behedge · let · hamper · worsen

Deriveds

unimpelled · reimpel

Relateds

impeller · impulse · impetus · impellent

Synonyms

evoke · induce · draw · egg on · sting · encourage · light a fire under · incite · urge · bring about · shove · inflame · excite · actuate · prompt · impel · grill · set off · spark off · oblige · cheer · send · move · motive · tempt · instigate · rouse · motivate · press · push · fuel · spur on · ignite · invoke · abet · goose · stoke · drive · propel · propel · obligate · whip up · whet · motivate · push · provoke · engender · stimulate · drive · foment · stir · stir up · goad · promote · actuate · thrutch · spur · lash

Translations (49)

az sövq etmək (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · fa واداشتن (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · ru приводи́ть в движе́ние (To drive forward; to propel an object) · fr propulser (To drive forward; to propel an object) · pt impelir (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · nl voortdrijven (To drive forward; to propel an object) · de treiben (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · de antreiben (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · sa सुवति (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · eo antaŭenigi (To drive forward; to propel an object) · mi whakanekeneke (To drive forward; to propel an object) · bg подтиквам (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · es impeler (To drive forward; to propel an object) · bg тласкам (To drive forward; to propel an object) · ru побужда́ть (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · hu tol (To drive forward; to propel an object) · fr inciter (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · fr éjecter (To drive forward; to propel an object) · fi kehottaa (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · es impeler (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · bg задвижвам (To drive forward; to propel an object) · cmn 促使 (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · sv framdriva (To drive forward; to propel an object) · bg движа (To drive forward; to propel an object) · es impulsar (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · la impellō (To drive forward; to propel an object) · ro motiva (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · fr motiver (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · de nötigen (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · grc προτρέπω (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · eo motivigi (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · fr pousser (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · mi torohaki (To drive forward; to propel an object) · sa सुवति (To drive forward; to propel an object) · eo peli (To drive forward; to propel an object) · fi yllyttää (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · nl aanzetten (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · fr pousser (To drive forward; to propel an object) · sh sȉliti (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · ro propulsa (To drive forward; to propel an object) · mi whakawhana (To drive forward; to propel an object) · bg подбуждам (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · ro impulsiona (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · de vorantreiben (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · fi työntää (To drive forward; to propel an object) · la impellō (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · qu tanqay (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · hu késztet (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation) · az vadar etmək (To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation)