The word "propel" comes from the Middle English word propellen "to drive away, expel," which is borrowed from the Latin propellere, meaning "to push forward", which combines the prefix pro- (forward) and the verb pellere ("to push" or "to drive").  This etymology is reflected in its meaning of "to drive or

Examples of "propel" used in a sentence: 
"Use your arms to help propel you upward and to control the movement." 
"I use the last amount of my remaining strength to propel myself upward."
"We need purpose to propel us forward." 
"Horses were threaded through improbable gaps, propelled forward to deeds of which they considered themselves incapable."
"Aim to jump as far as possible, using your arms to propel you forward." 
"Floor the accelerator pedal and you are propelled forward in a wave of power." 
"It was a shooting star that propelled me into astronomy in the first place." 
"He is propelled by both guilt and the need to avenge his father." 

Just the facts:

PROPEL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

PROPEL Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus