press

¹

[ pres ]

verb (used with object)

1. to act upon with steadily applied weight or force.
2. to move by weight or force in a certain direction or into a certain position:

   The crowd pressed him into a corner.

3. to compress or squeeze, as to alter in shape or size:

   He pressed the clay into a ball.

4. to weigh heavily upon; subject to pressure.
5. to hold closely, as in an embrace; clasp:

   He pressed her in his arms.

6. to flatten or make smooth, especially by ironing:

   to press clothes;

   to press flowers in the leaves of a book.

7. to extract juice, sugar, etc., from by pressure:

   to press grapes.

8. to squeeze out or express, as juice:

   to press the juice from grapes.

9. to beset or harass; afflict:

   He was pressed by problems on all sides.

   Synonyms: besiege, assail, torment, worry, harass, annoy

10. to trouble or oppress; put into a difficult position, as by depriving:

    Poverty pressed them hard.

11. to urge or entreat strongly or insistently:

    He pressed his parents to take him along.

    The interviewer pressed her for an explanation.

    Synonyms: implore, beg, persuade, induce

12. to emphasize or propound forcefully; insist upon:

    He pressed his own ideas on us.

13. to plead or pursue with insistence:

    The union’s shop steward pressed a complaint on the employee’s behalf.

14. to urge onward; hasten:

    He pressed his horse to go faster.

15. to push forward.

verb (used without object)

1. to manufacture (phonograph records, videodiscs, or the like), especially by stamping from a mold or matrix.
2. to exert weight, force, or pressure.
3. Weightlifting. to raise or lift, especially a specified amount of weight, in a press.
4. to iron clothing, curtains, etc.
5. to bear heavily, as upon the mind.
6. (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.

7. to compel haste:

   Time presses.

8. to demand immediate attention.
9. to use urgent entreaty:

   to press for an answer.

10. to push forward or advance with force, eagerness, or haste:

    The army pressed to reach the river by dawn.

11. to crowd or throng.
12. Basketball. to employ a press.

noun

1. an act of pressing; pressure.
2. the state of being pressed.
3. printed publications collectively, especially newspapers and periodicals.
4. all the media and agencies that print, broadcast, or gather and transmit news, including newspapers, newsmagazines, radio and television news bureaus, and wire services.
5. the editorial employees, taken collectively, of these media and agencies.
6. (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.

7. 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 or bad ):

   The play received a good press.

   The minister's visit got a bad press.

8. printing press.
9. an establishment for printing books, magazines, etc.
10. the process or art of printing.
11. any of various devices or machines for exerting pressure, stamping, or crushing.
12. a wooden or metal viselike device for preventing a tennis or other racket from warping when not in use.
13. a pressing or pushing forward.
14. a crowding, thronging, or pressing together; collective force:

    The press of the crowd drove them on.

15. a crowd, throng, or multitude.
16. the desired smooth or creased effect caused by ironing or pressing:

    His suit was out of press.

17. pressure or urgency, as of affairs or business.
18. an upright case or other piece of furniture for holding clothes, books, pamphlets, etc.
19. Basketball. an aggressive form of defense in which players guard opponents very closely.
20. 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)

1. to force into service, especially naval or military service; impress.
2. to make use of in a manner different from that intended or desired:

   French taxis were pressed into service as troop transports.

noun

1. impressment into service, especially naval or military service.

Press

³

[ pres ]

noun

1. a male given name.

press

¹

/ prɛs /

verb

1. to apply or exert weight, force, or steady pressure on

   he pressed the button on the camera

2. tr to squeeze or compress so as to alter in shape or form
3. to apply heat or pressure to (clothing) so as to smooth out or mark with creases; iron
4. to make (objects) from soft material by pressing with a mould, form, etc, esp to make gramophone records from plastic
5. tr to hold tightly or clasp, as in an embrace
6. tr to extract or force out (juice) by pressure (from)
7. tr weightlifting to lift (a weight) successfully with a press

   he managed to press 280 pounds

8. tr to force, constrain, or compel
9. to importune or entreat (a person) insistently; urge

   they pressed for an answer

10. to harass or cause harassment
11. tr to plead or put forward strongly or importunately

    to press a claim

12. intr to be urgent
13. tr; usually passive to have little of

    we're hard pressed for time

14. whenintr, often foll by on or forward to hasten or advance or cause to hasten or advance in a forceful manner
15. intr to crowd; throng; push
16. tr (formerly) to put to death or subject to torture by placing heavy weights upon
17. archaic.
    tr to trouble or oppress
18. press charges
    to bring charges against a person

noun

1. 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
2. See printing press
3. the art or process of printing
4. at the press or in the press
   being printed
5. to press or to the press
   to be printed

   when is this book going to press?

6. the press
   1. news media and agencies collectively, esp newspapers
   2. ( as modifier )

      a press matter

      press relations

7. the press
   those who work in the news media, esp newspaper reporters and photographers
8. the opinions and reviews in the newspapers, etc

   the play received a poor press

9. the act of pressing or state of being pressed
10. the act of crowding, thronging, or pushing together
11. a closely packed throng of people; crowd; multitude
12. urgency or hurry in business affairs
13. a cupboard, esp a large one used for storing clothes or linen
14. a wood or metal clamp or vice to prevent tennis rackets, etc, from warping when not in use
15. weightlifting a lift in which the weight is raised to shoulder level and then above the head

press

²

/ prɛs /

verb

1. to recruit (men) by forcible measures for military service
2. to use for a purpose other than intended, (esp in the phrase press into service )

noun

1. recruitment into military service by forcible measures, as by a press gang

Other Words From

• press·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of press¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun press(e), pres(e) “throng, company, trouble, machine for pressing, clothespress,” from Old French presse, prese, derivative of presser “to press,” from Latin pressāre, frequentative of premere (past participle pressus ) “to press” (compare rare Old English press “clothespress,” from Medieval Latin pressa, noun use of feminine of pressus); Middle English verb pressen, pres(se), from Old French pres(s)er, from Latin pressāre, as above

Origin of press²

First recorded in 1535–45; back formation from prest, past participle of obsolete prest “to take (men) for military service,” verb use of prest ² (in the sense “enlistment money”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of press¹

C14 pressen, from Old French presser, from Latin pressāre, from premere to press

Origin of press²

C16: back formation from prest to recruit soldiers; see prest ²; also influenced by press ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go to press, to begin being printed:

   The last edition has gone to press.

2. press the flesh, Informal. flesh ( def 24 ).
3. press charges. press charges ( def ).

More idioms and phrases containing press

• hard pressed
• hot off the press
• push (press) one's luck
• push (press) someone's buttons

Example Sentences

After being gathered by hand, villagers from Umm Safa take sacks full of olives to the nearby factory, where the presses have restarted this season.

From BBC

This is a pressing concern in a super-aging society like Japan where -- while people live longer -- without proper muscle strength, quality of life can be drastically diminished.

From Science Daily

The farmers insist they are determined to press on with their campaign.

From BBC

As I waited for brain surgery, I instinctively pressed record on my phone camera, thinking I might be documenting the final months of my life.

From BBC

The PM was asked by journalists if the UK should be preparing for nuclear war at a press conference to close the G20 summit of the world's largest economies in Brazil.

From BBC

Related Words

• assail
• demand
• force
• petition
• push
• squeeze
• sue
• urge
• worry

More About Press

What is a basic definition of press?

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. 

Press can also mean to use force to move something into a specific position.

• 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. 

The word press is used as a noun to collectively refer to all the newspapers, TV programs, radio shows, and other means of communication that make up the news media. The people who work for organizations that produce these communications are also referred to as the press.

• 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. 

In a similar sense, the word press also refers to the stories and other communications that news media create to inform their audience.

• Used in a sentence: His son’s acts of charity always provided good press for the mayor. 

Where does press come from?

The first records of press come from around 1175. Both the noun and verb senses of press ultimately come from the Latin verb pressāre.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to press?

• pressable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for press?

• push
• force
• squeeze
• media
• reporters
• journalists

What are some words that share a root or word element with press? 

• pressing
• pressure
• impress
• depress
• pressed for time
• press on

What are some words that often get used in discussing press?

• button
• keyboard
• play
• conference
• pass
• release
• corps
• printing
• clothes

How is press used in real life?

Press is a very common word that often refers to applying force to things or the news media.

Driving with my parents is like driving with an air-horn pressed against my ear

— rome (@RSansone12) May 5, 2013

Mark Zuckerberg is taking questions from the press, but the Q&A session isn't being live streamed.

— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) March 7, 2013

*me re-reading my own tweet with a spelling error that wasn’t there when I pressed send* pic.twitter.com/jXLLPf9ENy

— sharine taylor 🇯🇲 (@shharine) February 26, 2021

Try using press!

Is press used correctly in the following sentence?

The doctor gently pressed the stethoscope against the patient’s chest to listen for a heat beat.