What does impel mean?
Word: Impel
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Impel means to give someone such a strong feeling that they have to act.
Synonyms: urge
How do you spell impel?
Syllables: im - pel
Tricky part: Pupils who know impelled often carry its double l back into this word. On its own it has only one.
Watch out for: impell, impelle, impull
Memory tip: One l stands alone here. It gains a twin only when ed or ing comes to join it.
Impel in a sentence
Example 1: Curiosity will impel a kitten to open every cupboard in the house.
Example 2: A love of the sea impelled Amara to train as a marine biologist.
Example 3: Seeing litter on the beach impelled the students to start a clean-up club.
Fun Fact
It comes from Latin impellere, meaning to push forward, so the word still carries the sense of a force moving you along.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
imppel
a) l
b) e
c) m
d) p
Show answer
d) p. Only one p follows the m.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Only a real love of science could meilp someone to study through the summer holidays.
a) induce
b) impel
c) excel
d) imbue
Show answer
b) impel. Five letters with an m and a p, and no x, b or d, leave one word.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word impel as used in the sentence:
A strong sense of duty will often impel Dr Rao to visit distant villages on her days off.
a) invite
b) remind
c) discourage
d) drive
Show answer
d) drive. Her sense of duty pushes her on from within, which is what drive means here.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. impel 2. nuisence 3. aquaintance 4. priviledge
a) a special right given to only a few
b) to push a person towards an action
c) a person or thing that annoys you
d) a person you know only a little
Show answer
b) to push a person towards an action. The other three should read nuisance, acquaintance and privilege.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What would be most likely to impel you to write to a newspaper?
a) a quiet Sunday spent at your cousin's
b) a gentle breeze through the window
c) a pencil lying on your study table
d) a strong feeling about a local issue
Show answer
d) a strong feeling about a local issue
2. A poster aims to impel pupils to read more. What must it do?
a) stir a real wish to pick up a book
b) list the rules of the library desk
c) show the library's opening hours
d) thank pupils who returned their books
Show answer
a) stir a real wish to pick up a book
