eject
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪdʒˈɛkt/
US
- /ɪˈdʒɛkt/
Description
- force out
- expel
- throw out
To eject something means to force it out, often suddenly. Think of a pilot being thrown out of a plane in an emergency, or a computer pushing out a disc. It can also mean removing someone from a place, like being ejected from a concert for bad behavior. Sometimes even your body ejects things, like air or liquid when you sneeze.
The word comes from the Latin eicere, meaning "to throw." So if something is being "ejected," imagine it's being thrown out with some power behind it. A volcano might eject lava and ash, or a bouncer might eject unruly patrons from a bar. It's not a gentle removal; it's a forceful one!
To eject means to force something or someone out of a place or situation, often abruptly and with considerable force. It implies a deliberate act of expulsion. For example: "The faulty disc drive automatically ejected the CD," or "Security guards ejected the protesters from the building."
Eject can be used in various contexts. In aviation, it refers to a pilot being thrown out of an aircraft by an ejection seat, usually in an emergency. In computing, it means causing a disc to come out or safely disconnecting removable media. "Please eject the disc before turning off the computer."
Beyond physical removal, "eject" can also describe dismissing someone from a group or organization. A club might eject a member for violating its rules. Or, in a more figurative sense, your body might eject fluids—like when you vomit or sneeze.
The word carries a sense of finality and often implies some level of resistance on the part of what is being ejected. It's not simply removing something; it's actively forcing it out. So whether it's a pilot escaping danger, data being removed from a device, or someone being expelled for misbehavior—to eject means to drive something out with force and intention.
Examples
- 1
Device control
Press this button to eject the disc.
- 2
Emergency escape
The pilot ejected seconds before the jet hit the ground.
- 3
Sports penalty
The referee ejected two players for fighting.
Domain
in sports, eject someone
order them to leave the game
- 4
Bar removal
A drunk customer was ejected from the bar after shouting at the staff.
Pattern
be ejected from + place
be forced to leave that place
- 5
Computer safety
Always eject the USB drive before you unplug it.
Domain
eject a USB drive
remove it safely from a computer
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- ejectverb
Forms
- ejectedpast tenseverb
- ejecting-ing formverb
- ejectsverb