squeeze

[ skweez ]

verb (used with object)

, squeezed, squeez·ing.

1. to press forcibly together; compress.
2. to apply pressure to in order to extract juice, sap, or the like:

   The tool is used to squeeze an orange.

3. to force out, extract, or procure by pressure:

   For this cocktail, first squeeze the juice from a pineapple.

4. to thrust forcibly; force by pressure; cram:

   I squeezed three suits into a small suitcase and now I'm afraid to unpack.

   Synonyms: stuff, jam, pac, crowd

5. to fit into a small or crowded space or timespan:

   The doctor will try to squeeze you in between appointments.

6. to enclose (another person's hand, arm, etc.) in one's hand and apply pressure as a token of affection, friendship, sympathy, or the like:

   His father squeezed his hand and wished him luck.

7. to give (someone) a hug.
8. to threaten, intimidate, harass, or oppress (a person) in order to obtain a favor, money, or an advantageous attitude or action.
9. to cause financial hardship to:

   Manufacturers squeezed by high tariffs have stopped offering international shipping.

10. to obtain a facsimile impression of.
11. to cause to merge, as two or more lines of traffic into fewer lanes.
12. Baseball.
    1. to enable (a runner on third base) to score on a squeeze play (often followed by in ):

       He squeezed him in with a perfect bunt.

    2. to score (a run) in this way (often followed by in ):

       The Dodgers squeezed in a run in the eighth inning.

13. Bridge. to force (an opponent) to play a potentially winning card on a trick they cannot win.

verb (used without object)

, squeezed, squeez·ing.

1. to exert a compressing force:

   She took his hand and squeezed hard.

2. to force one's way through some narrow or crowded place (usually followed by through, in, out, etc.):

   It was so crowded we could barely squeeze through the passageway.

3. to merge or come together.

noun

1. the act or fact of squeezing or the fact of being squeezed:

   It'll be a bit of a squeeze to get them all in the same taxi.

2. a clasping of one's hand around another's hand, arm, etc., as a token of affection, friendship, sympathy, or the like.
3. a hug or close embrace.
4. a troubled financial condition, especially caused by a shortage or restriction, as of credit or funds.
5. a small quantity or amount of anything obtained by squeezing:

   It just needs a squeeze of lemon juice.

6. squeak ( def 3 ).
7. Slang. a sweetheart:

   his main squeeze.

8. a facsimile impression of an inscription or the like, obtained by pressing some plastic substance over or around it.
9. squeeze play.
10. Bridge. a play or circumstance whereby an opponent is forced to waste or discard a potentially winning card.
11. an act of threatening, intimidating, harassing, or oppressing a person or persons to obtain a favor, money, or an advantageous attitude or action:

    gangsters putting the squeeze on small businesses.

12. money or a favor obtained in such a way.

squeeze

/ skwiːz /

verb

1. to grip or press firmly, esp so as to crush or distort; compress
2. to crush or press (something) so as to extract (a liquid)

   to squeeze an orange

   to squeeze the juice from an orange

3. to apply gentle pressure to, as in affection or reassurance

   he squeezed her hand

4. to push or force in a confined space

   to squeeze through a crowd

   to squeeze six lettuces into one box

5. to hug closely
6. to oppress with exacting demands, such as excessive taxes
7. to exert pressure on (someone) in order to extort (something): to squeeze money out of a victim by blackmail
8. intr to yield under pressure
9. to make an impression of (a coin, etc) in a soft substance
10. bridge whist to lead a card that forces (opponents) to discard potentially winning cards

noun

1. the act or an instance of squeezing or of being squeezed
2. a hug or handclasp
3. a crush of people in a confined space
4. a condition of restricted credit imposed by a government to counteract price inflation
5. an impression, esp of a coin, etc, made in a soft substance
6. an amount extracted by squeezing

   add a squeeze of lemon juice

7. commerce any action taken by a trader or traders on a market that forces buyers to make purchases and prices to rise
8. informal.
   pressure brought to bear in order to extort something (esp in the phrase put the squeeze on )
9. Also calledsqueeze play bridge whist a manoeuvre that forces opponents to discard potentially winning cards
10. informal.
    a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship

Derived Forms

• ˈsqueezer, noun
• ˈsqueezable, adjective

Other Words From

• squeez·er noun
• squeez·ing·ly adverb
• in·ter·squeeze verb (used with object) intersqueezed intersqueezing
• un·squeezed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of squeeze¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; perhaps variant of obsolete squize ( Old English cwȳsan ) “to squeeze,” with initial s by false division of words in a closely joined phrase

Word History and Origins

Origin of squeeze¹

C16: from Middle English queysen to press, from Old English cwӯsan

Idioms and Phrases

• main squeeze
• put the arm (squeeze) on
• tight squeeze

Example Sentences

Crusius’ manifesto was striking because he considered the crushing squeeze of environmental degradation — the very changes that would be amplified by climate change — on communities, but from the opposite perspective.

From Salon

“He’s been applying his bronzing cream to his face. Cute couple. Look out, Melania, Trump’s got a new squeeze named Elonia Musk.”

From Los Angeles Times

California State University is facing a similar financial squeeze, projecting a budget hole of between $400 million and $800 million after receiving similar warnings of state funding reductions.

From Los Angeles Times

Like their American counterparts, Russian police operate on a system of quotas, and to meet those demands a common tactic was to catch a low-level seller or user, then put the squeeze on them till they turn in their buddies.

From Salon

A warmer atmosphere holds more water, so as the planet heats up, we can expect more extreme rain “whenever the conditions are right to squeeze that moisture out,” he said.

From Slate

Related Words

• congestion
• crunch
• restraint