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press
1[pres]
verb (used with object)
to act upon with steadily applied weight or force.
to move by weight or force in a certain direction or into a certain position.
The crowd pressed him into a corner.
to compress or squeeze, as to alter in shape or size.
He pressed the clay into a ball.
to weigh heavily upon; subject to pressure.
to hold closely, as in an embrace; clasp.
He pressed her in his arms.
to flatten or make smooth, especially by ironing.
to press clothes;
to press flowers in the leaves of a book.
to extract juice, sugar, etc., from by pressure.
to press grapes.
to squeeze out or express, as juice.
to press the juice from grapes.
to beset or harass; afflict.
He was pressed by problems on all sides.
to trouble or oppress; put into a difficult position, as by depriving.
Poverty pressed them hard.
to urge or entreat strongly or insistently.
He pressed his parents to take him along.
The interviewer pressed her for an explanation.
to emphasize or propound forcefully; insist upon.
He pressed his own ideas on us.
to plead or pursue with insistence.
The union’s shop steward pressed a complaint on the employee’s behalf.
to urge onward; hasten.
He pressed his horse to go faster.
to push forward.
verb (used without object)
to manufacture (phonograph records, videodiscs, or the like), especially by stamping from a mold or matrix.
to exert weight, force, or pressure.
Weightlifting., to raise or lift, especially a specified amount of weight, in a press.
to iron clothing, curtains, etc.
to bear heavily, as upon the mind.
(of athletes and competitors) to perform tensely or overanxiously, as when one feels pressured or is determined to break out of a slump; strain because of frustration.
For days he hasn't seemed able to buy a hit, and he's been pressing.
to compel haste.
Time presses.
to demand immediate attention.
to use urgent entreaty.
to press for an answer.
to push forward or advance with force, eagerness, or haste.
The army pressed to reach the river by dawn.
to crowd or throng.
Basketball., to employ a press.
noun
an act of pressing; pressure.
the state of being pressed.
printed publications collectively, especially newspapers and periodicals.
all the media and agencies that print, broadcast, or gather and transmit news, including newspapers, newsmagazines, radio and television news bureaus, and wire services.
the editorial employees, taken collectively, of these media and agencies.
(often used with a plural verb), a group of news reporters, or of news reporters and news photographers.
The press are in the outer office, waiting for a statement.
the consensus of the general critical commentary or the amount of coverage accorded a person, thing, or event, especially in newspapers and periodicals (often preceded by good orbad ).
The play received a good press.
The minister's visit got a bad press.
an establishment for printing books, magazines, etc.
the process or art of printing.
any of various devices or machines for exerting pressure, stamping, or crushing.
a wooden or metal viselike device for preventing a tennis or other racket from warping when not in use.
a pressing or pushing forward.
a crowding, thronging, or pressing together; collective force.
The press of the crowd drove them on.
a crowd, throng, or multitude.
the desired smooth or creased effect caused by ironing or pressing.
His suit was out of press.
pressure or urgency, as of affairs or business.
an upright case or other piece of furniture for holding clothes, books, pamphlets, etc.
Basketball., an aggressive form of defense in which players guard opponents very closely.
Weightlifting., a lift in which the barbell, after having been lifted from the ground up to chest level, is pushed to a position overhead with the arms extended straight up, without moving the legs or feet.
press
2[pres]
verb (used with object)
to force into service, especially naval or military service; impress.
to make use of in a manner different from that intended or desired.
French taxis were pressed into service as troop transports.
noun
impressment into service, especially naval or military service.
Press
3[pres]
noun
a male given name.
press
1/ prɛs /
verb
to apply or exert weight, force, or steady pressure on
he pressed the button on the camera
(tr) to squeeze or compress so as to alter in shape or form
to apply heat or pressure to (clothing) so as to smooth out or mark with creases; iron
to make (objects) from soft material by pressing with a mould, form, etc, esp to make gramophone records from plastic
(tr) to hold tightly or clasp, as in an embrace
(tr) to extract or force out (juice) by pressure (from)
(tr) weightlifting to lift (a weight) successfully with a press
he managed to press 280 pounds
(tr) to force, constrain, or compel
to importune or entreat (a person) insistently; urge
they pressed for an answer
to harass or cause harassment
(tr) to plead or put forward strongly or importunately
to press a claim
(intr) to be urgent
(tr; usually passive) to have little of
we're hard pressed for time
to hasten or advance or cause to hasten or advance in a forceful manner
(intr) to crowd; throng; push
(tr) (formerly) to put to death or subject to torture by placing heavy weights upon
archaic, (tr) to trouble or oppress
to bring charges against a person
noun
any machine that exerts pressure to form, shape, or cut materials or to extract liquids, compress solids, or hold components together while an adhesive joint is formed
See printing press
the art or process of printing
being printed
to be printed
when is this book going to press?
news media and agencies collectively, esp newspapers
( as modifier )
a press matter
press relations
those who work in the news media, esp newspaper reporters and photographers
the opinions and reviews in the newspapers, etc
the play received a poor press
the act of pressing or state of being pressed
the act of crowding, thronging, or pushing together
a closely packed throng of people; crowd; multitude
urgency or hurry in business affairs
a cupboard, esp a large one used for storing clothes or linen
a wood or metal clamp or vice to prevent tennis rackets, etc, from warping when not in use
weightlifting a lift in which the weight is raised to shoulder level and then above the head
press
2/ prɛs /
verb
to recruit (men) by forcible measures for military service
to use for a purpose other than intended, (esp in the phrase press into service )
noun
recruitment into military service by forcible measures, as by a press gang
Other Word Forms
- pressable adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of press1
Word History and Origins
Origin of press1
Origin of press2
Idioms and Phrases
press the flesh, flesh.
press charges. press charges.
go to press, to begin being printed.
The last edition has gone to press.
More idioms and phrases containing press
- hard pressed
- hot off the press
- push (press) one's luck
- push (press) someone's buttons
Example Sentences
"And whilst I was isolated, the press... were able to beat me up in the dark. That's been happening for about the last eight years. And I chose to leave the UK."
That speculation, which went around social media before Tuesday’s press conference, was pulled straight from someone’s nether regions who has neither access to accurate information nor common sense.
“The only motive for opposing this bill would be to conceal wrongdoing,” Epstein accuser Anouska de Georgiou told the crowd gathered for their press conference.
And, as with anything involving Markle, there has been a lot of hate thrown around, particularly from the British press.
“But at the same time, in terms of publicity and trying to get the show seen by the press, no one was interested,” Bonneville jumps in.
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When To Use
Press means to apply force to something or to move something to a certain spot or position. Press is also used as a noun to refer to the media or media coverage. Press has many other senses as a verb and a noun.Press means to apply steady force to something, often with a finger or hand. For example, you press the power button on a remote control to turn a TV on.
- Real-life examples: You press the buttons on a microwave to make it work. A person must press the keys on a keyboard in order to type on a computer.
- Used in a sentence: Janelle pressed the pause button on the controller before getting a snack.
- Real-life examples: Prison guards may press prisoners against a wall in order to search them. People press their hands together when praying. A customer might press their movie ticket against the glass of a teller’s booth to show that they bought one.
- Used in a sentence: My friend pressed the poster against the wall while I taped it down.
- Real-life examples: Politicians, athletes, scientists, and police often answer questions from the press. Citizens rely on the press for accurate news and to learn about what is happening in the world.
- Used in a sentence: The senator refused to talk to the press.
- Used in a sentence: His son’s acts of charity always provided good press for the mayor.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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