expel

Everyday

1. To expel a pupil is to make them leave a school for good because they behaved very badly. tree →
2. To expel someone is to force them to leave a country, club or group. tree →
3. (science) To expel something is to push it out with force, like air from your lungs. tree →
4. To expel someone from an office or job is to remove them from it. tree →

In the lessons

In school life, expelling is the most serious punishment (in the US also "expulsion"). In science: lungs expel air; the heart expels blood. In stories: a hero is expelled from a kingdom. Phrases: be expelled from, expel air.

Examples

• The boy was expelled from school for fighting. tree →
• Breathing out expels air from your lungs. tree →
• He was expelled from the club for cheating. tree →
• The volcano expelled ash and gas. tree →
• Squeeze the bottle to expel the water. tree →
• The king expelled the traitor from the land. tree →
• Being expelled is more serious than being suspended. tree →
• The pump expels 2 litres of water each minute. tree →
• He expelled Menesthius from office, rigorously punished the ringleaders of the revolt, and placed himself once more upon the throne. tree →

Note

Double the l: expelled, expelling. Noun: expulsion. Trap: suspended = sent home for some days; expelled = sent away for good. In UK schools also "excluded" or "permanently excluded".