pressure

[ presh-er ]

noun

1. the exertion of force upon a surface by an object, fluid, etc., in contact with it:

   the pressure of earth against a wall.

2. Physics. force per unit area. : P Compare stress ( def 6 ).
3. Meteorology. atmospheric pressure.
4. Electricity. electromotive force.
5. the state of being pressed or compressed.
6. harassment; oppression:

   the pressures of daily life.

7. a constraining or compelling force or influence:

   the social pressures of city life;

   financial pressure.

8. urgency, as of affairs or business:

   He works well under pressure.

9. Obsolete. that which is impressed.

verb (used with object)

, pres·sured, pres·sur·ing.

1. to force (someone) toward a particular end; influence:

   They pressured him into accepting the contract.

2. pressurize.

pressure

/ ˈprɛʃə /

noun

1. the state of pressing or being pressed
2. the exertion of force by one body on the surface of another
3. a moral force that compels

   to bring pressure to bear

4. an urgent claim or demand or series of urgent claims or demands

   to work under pressure

5. a burdensome condition that is hard to bear

   the pressure of grief

6. the normal force applied to a unit area of a surface, usually measured in pascals (newtons per square metre), millibars, torr, or atmospheres pP
7. short for atmospheric pressure blood pressure

verb

1. tr to constrain or compel, as by the application of moral force
2. another word for pressurize

pressure

/ prĕsh′ər /

1. The force per unit area that one region of a gas, liquid, or solid exerts on another. Pressure is usually measured in Pascal units, atmospheres, or pounds per square inch.
2. ◆ A substance is said to have negative pressure if some other substance exerts more force per unit area on it than vice versa. Its value is simply the negative of the pressure exerted by the other substance.

pressure

1. The force exerted on a given area. ( See atmospheric pressure .)

Notes

The most familiar measure of pressure is psi (pounds per square inch), used to rate pressure in automobile and bicycle tires.

Derived Forms

• ˈpressureless, adjective

Other Words From

• pressure·less adjective
• inter·pressure adjective
• non·pressure noun adverb
• super·pressure noun adjective
• under·pressure noun
• un·pressured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pressure¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun), from Latin pressūra; press ¹, -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of pressure¹

C14: from Late Latin pressūra a pressing, from Latin premere to press

Example Sentences

Davies has been under pressure since the summer over concerns raised internally over his social media account on X.

From BBC

She says it would open the door to people being subjected to coercive control or being pressured to end their lives prematurely.

From BBC

Streeting also highlighted social-media pressures, saying men faced similar issues to women around their self-esteem and body image and he would not "shy away" from the need to focus on men’s health.

From BBC

He described the bill as “phenomenal” and said he believed the safeguards were restrictive enough to prevent anyone from being pressured into taking their own life.

From BBC

With the strike in its second week, the Culinary Workers Union is hoping to pressure Virgin Hotels Las Vegas to agree to a new five-year contract with higher pay and better benefits for workers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compel
• constrain
• insist
• press
• push