propel something forward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "propel something forward" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a metaphor which means to cause progress or momentum in something. For example: "The company's strong financial statements will propel our growth forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

You need something to propel you forward or set you apart from other candidates.

Columbia University

Pinkner stated in another interview that it "will be as much as anything about setting up next season," and Wyman agreed, writing "It's like when you read a great novel and you finish a chapter, you're like, 'Oh my gosh, something happened that's going to propel me forward!' That's something we desire to emulate".

Wikipedia

Something seemed to propel us forward: his need for intimacy after 34 years of marriage, my compulsive caring genes?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If you can see that failure for what it is, just one more step in the never-ending process we call life, you may well learn something that can propel you forward.

HuffPost

In most cases, if you can see that failure for what it is -- just one step in a life-long process of trial and error -- you may well learn something that can propel you forward.

Huffington Post

And on a purely physical level, I was in so much pain toward the end of my second pregnancy (hello, lightning crotch!), and she kicked me so hard once that I was propelled forward like something out of an alien movie.

Huffington Post

Now begins what Hollywood calls an "inciting incident". Something has to happen in the story to propel it forward, in order to take the hero from an ordinary to an extraordinary world.

HuffPost

While improved hard disks and memory chips are useful, researchers in spintronics are still searching for something that will propel the field forward the way the transistor transformed electronics.

The New York Times - Science

Still, there is something in this experience that seems to continue to propel him forward, that has instilled in him a great work ethic – as if songwriting ought to always be counterbalanced by physical labour.

The Guardian - Music

Her new songs are all these things too: at times starkly vulnerable, at times ruthlessly self deprecating, propelling herself forward into something new.

Vice

And then something just propels me forward to say, 'No just one more year to just put it out there, because they do exist in the world somewhere,'" Groover told WPBF TV.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "propel something forward" when you want to emphasize a forceful or dynamic push towards progress. It suggests more than just simple advancement.

Common error

Avoid using "propel something forward" when a gentler or more gradual advancement is intended. Words like "advance" or "develop" may be more suitable in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "propel something forward" functions as a transitive verb phrase, indicating an action performed on an object to cause its advancement. As noted by Ludwig AI, it suggests causing progress or momentum.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "propel something forward" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the act of forcefully advancing or accelerating progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, it suggests causing significant momentum. This phrase is versatile, appearing in various contexts such as news, business, and academic writing, but it is crucial to consider its connotation of strong, dynamic movement to ensure its appropriateness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drive something forward

This alternative implies sustained effort and direction, similar to "propel" but less about initial force.

push something forward

This alternative suggests overcoming resistance and applying pressure.

advance something

This alternative is more general and lacks the forceful imagery of "propel".

catapult something forward

This alternative emphasizes a rapid and forceful advancement.

boost something

This alternative suggests a sudden increase or surge, rather than continuous movement.

accelerate something

This alternative focuses on increasing the speed or rate of progress.

further something

This alternative is a more formal and general term for promoting progress.

galvanize something

This alternative means to shock or excite someone into taking action to propel progress.

stimulate something

This alternative suggests encouraging or inciting growth and progress.

precipitate something

This alternative suggests causing something to happen suddenly or sooner than expected.

FAQs

How can I use "propel something forward" in a sentence?

You can use "propel something forward" to describe actions or factors that strongly contribute to the progress or advancement of a project, idea, or initiative. For example, "The new marketing campaign will "drive the project forward"".

What are some alternatives to "propel something forward"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "advance something", "boost something", or "drive something forward".

When is it appropriate to use "propel something forward"?

It's appropriate to use "propel something forward" when you want to convey a sense of strong momentum and force behind the advancement of something. This is best used when the progress involves overcoming obstacles or requires significant effort.

What's the difference between "propel something forward" and "push something forward"?

While both phrases suggest advancing something, "propel something forward" implies a more dynamic and forceful movement, like being launched, whereas "push something forward" suggests continuous effort to overcome resistance.