eject
B2Neutral to formal. More formal in legal/administrative contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To force or throw something or someone out, often suddenly or violently.
To compel someone to leave a place or position, often as a formal punishment or due to failure; in technology, to mechanically remove or expel something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies an authoritative action or a mechanical process. Connotes a lack of choice for the object/person being ejected. Can be used both literally (physical removal) and figuratively (removal from a group/position).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both varieties use it similarly. The verb 'eject' is more common than the noun 'ejectment' in both.
Connotations
In both, it carries connotations of force, authority, or mechanical action.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in technical/aviation contexts (e.g., 'ejector seat').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] eject [NP] from [NP][NP] eject [NP][NP] ejectVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Press eject on (something) = to decisively end or abandon a situation.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal removal of a person from a board or partnership.
Academic
In physics/engineering: to describe the expulsion of matter. In social sciences: forced displacement of populations.
Everyday
Throwing out a troublemaker from a pub; removing a DVD from a player.
Technical
Aviation: activating an ejection seat. Computing: unmounting and removing external media.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The landlord can eject tenants for non-payment of rent.
- The player was ejected for violent conduct.
- Press the button to eject the memory card.
American English
- The bouncer ejected the unruly patron from the bar.
- The pilot had to eject from the failing aircraft.
- The disk drive failed to eject the CD.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please eject the DVD when the film is finished.
- The teacher told the noisy pupil to leave, but did not eject him.
- The security guard ejected the fans who were fighting.
- This software allows you to safely eject USB devices.
- The committee voted to eject the member for breaching the code of conduct.
- Volcanoes eject vast quantities of ash and lava into the atmosphere.
- The new legislation makes it harder to eject tenants without just cause.
- The black hole's powerful gravity prevents even light from being ejected from its event horizon.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'EJECT' button on a DVD player. It forcefully pushes the disc OUT. The 'E' can stand for 'EXIT' or 'EXPEL'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL/PHYSICAL SPACE IS A CONTAINER (ejecting removes something from inside the container).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'эффект' (effect).
- Не всегда является точным синонимом 'выбрасывать' в контексте мусора (to discard).
- В техническом контексте 'to eject a disc' – 'извлечь диск', а не 'выкинуть'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He was ejected out from the car.' Correct: 'He was ejected from the car.'
- Confusing 'eject' (forceful removal) with 'reject' (refuse to accept).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'eject' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are similar. 'Evict' is specific and legal, used for forcing someone out of a property. 'Eject' is broader, used for any forced removal from a place or position.
Yes, in intransitive use, especially in technical/aviation contexts: 'The pilot ejected.' (The pilot ejected themselves).
The most common nouns are 'ejection' (the process/act) and 'ejector' (the thing/person that ejects). 'Ejectment' is a specific legal term.
Not always. It implies force or authority, but that force can be mechanical and non-violent (ejecting a disk) or administrative (ejecting someone from a meeting).