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Prepositions after verbs

Banish from or banish to?

Both banish from and banish to are standard, but they focus on different parts of the action. One names the place removed from, and the other names the destination.

Quick answer

When do we use banish from or banish to?

Use banish from for the place someone is removed from. Use banish to for the place where someone is sent.

The prince was banished from the kingdom
He was banished to a remote island
The group was banished from public life

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
banish from + place

Showing where someone is expelled from

Use from to identify the place, group, or situation someone must leave.

She was banished from the court
2
banish to + place

Showing the destination of exile

Use to for the place where someone is sent.

The ruler banished him to the frontier
3
banish from + abstract area

Removing something symbolically

From can also be used metaphorically with public life, memory, or discussion.

The scandal was banished from the debate

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
banish from
They banished her from the city.
Focuses on the place or group left behind.
banish to
He was banished to a distant colony.
Focuses on the destination.
banish into
The idea was banished into obscurity.
A less common literary pattern showing movement into a state.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using from when the destination matters

Use to when naming the place where someone is sent.

✕ He was banished from an island. ✓ He was banished to an island.

Using to when talking about exclusion

Use from for the place or group someone must leave.

✕ She was banished to the organisation. ✓ She was banished from the organisation.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The rebel was banished ___ the capital.
2. The king banished the prisoner ___ a remote region.
3. The actor was banished ___ public life after the scandal.

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Frequently asked questions

Can banish from be used metaphorically?

Yes. It can describe removing someone or something from public life, memory, or discussion.

Does banish to always describe a physical place?

Usually yes, although literary writing may use it more figuratively.

Are banish from and banish to both standard English?

Yes. They are both standard but describe different parts of the action.

back-by-away-out-in, up backfire on, in, as, at or with? backtrack on, to, in, after or by? "baffle by" or "baffle as"? "bake in" or "bake for"? balance by, in, on, with or between? ban from, in, for, by or on? "bang on" or "bang for"? baptize in, by, into, with or on? "bargain for" or "bargain with"? "bark at" or "bark in"? bathe in, by, on, with or for?

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