- The definition of impel is to force something to happen or to cause someone to do something.
When you cause someone to feel very angry, this is an example of a situation where you impel angry feelings.
impel definition by Webster's New World
- to push, drive, or move forward; propel
- to force, compel, or urge; incite; constrain
Origin: Middle English impellen ; from Classical Latin impellere ; from in-, in plush pellere, to drive ; from Indo-European base an unverified form pel-, to push into motion, drive from source felt
- impellent adjective, noun
impel definition by American Heritage Dictionary
transitive verb im·pelled, im·pel·ling, im·pels
- To urge to action through moral pressure; drive: I was impelled by events to take a stand.
- To drive forward; propel.
Origin: Middle English impellen, from Latin impellere : in-, against; see in-2 + pellere, to drive; see pel-5 in Indo-European roots.