How to Use propulsion in a Sentence

propulsion

noun
  • Sailboats use wind as their source of propulsion.
  • Like the yacht itself, the propulsion system is a bit of a mix.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Ars: What's the status of the electric propulsion thrusters for the PPE?
    ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2025
  • To see what she’s been up to, the propulsion, the expansion . . .
    Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024
  • Starship would then use its own propulsion to get to the Moon.
    Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 1 May 2020
  • The biggest change in the rocket is its first-stage propulsion.
    Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 20 May 2022
  • As for propulsion, the vessel will have a top speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2021
  • The trick to extending the range of any air-to-air missile is its propulsion.
    David Axe, Forbes, 21 May 2021
  • The propulsion force is determined by the amount of mass that the propellers move.
    Harry Guinness, Popular Science, 8 June 2023
  • The propulsion returns at the end, but viewers have to get there to enjoy it.
    Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2022
  • The cheapest youth ATVs are around $50, but these rely on your kid’s legs for propulsion.
    Bob Beacham, chicagotribune.com, 12 Dec. 2020
  • There are five different speeds to choose from, and the speed of the propulsion can be adjusted with a lever on the left side of the handle.
    Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2023
  • So, the only choice buyers had to make was between the two propulsion systems.
    Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 26 May 2023
  • Should the problem arise while the EV is being driven, that could lead to a complete loss of propulsion.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 14 June 2022
  • These new 496-foot frigates will be built out of steel and use propeller propulsion.
    Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2021
  • The new boat's propulsion system will be cutting-edge and the only of its sort approved by the Coast Guard, Aprile said.
    Kevin Spear, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2021
  • The new report also takes issue with the fees awarded as part of the propulsion contracts.
    Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 25 May 2023
  • There is wit, levity and propulsion to the episodes, which zip by after the slow opener.
    Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2020
  • The Slocum requires a tiny amount of energy for propulsion.
    John Fialka, Scientific American, 14 July 2020
  • However, to get to space, a spacecraft needs propulsion to get past the Karman Line.
    Krystal Hur, WSJ, 16 July 2021
  • The heel is beveled to promote propulsion and decrease fatigue.
    Brett Williams, Men's Health, 20 Dec. 2022
  • During the countdown the next day, 13 valves used in Starliner’s propulsion system failed to open, and the launch was called off.
    New York Times, 13 Aug. 2021
  • Knowing the outcome doesn’t slow the forward propulsion of Montville’s account one bit.
    BostonGlobe.com, 9 July 2021
  • Hence, ‘Oumuamua was pushed by sunlight not for the purpose of propulsion but as a byproduct of its thin flat shape.
    Avi Loeb, Scientific American, 22 June 2021
  • On the power side, the team created a new propulsion system with a high thrust-to-weight ratio.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2025
  • For the next half-decade, the MEV will use its propulsion system to keep the satellite operational in the right orbit.
    Sarah Scoles, Wired, 10 Dec. 2020
  • The second mission will also head to the Moon’s south pole in the search for water ice that could be used for life support and propulsion.
    Michael Kan, PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024
  • The Approach All of these methods of propulsion can work (check your regs before using the outboard).
    Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 1 June 2023
  • Unlike most underwater propulsion systems that strap onto your arms or legs, the CudaJet is worn like a backpack, giving you a hands-free way to cruise beneath the surface.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
  • The industry aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and is investing heavily in adaptable propulsion systems and a range of potential power sources.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 10 June 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'propulsion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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