squeeze

American  

[skweez] / skwiz /

verb (used with object)

squeezed, squeezing

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 byin ).

       He squeezed him in with a perfect bunt.

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

       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, squeezing

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.

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 British  

/ 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 the juice from an orange

   to squeeze 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 six lettuces into one box

   to squeeze through a crowd

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 called: squeeze 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

squeeze Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing squeeze

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

---

Other Word Forms

• intersqueeze verb (used with object)
• squeezable adjective
• squeezer noun
• squeezingly adverb
• unsqueezed adjective

Etymology

Origin of squeeze

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

Explanation

When you squeeze something, you put pressure on it. If you squeeze your toothpaste from the bottom up, you'll get the most out of your tube. The word squeeze has to do with force or pressure. When you squeeze something, like an orange, you are crushing it to extract juice. When you squeeze into a pair of jeans, you're forcing yourself into them. When you give someone a squeeze, you're giving them a tight hug. And when you're in a squeeze, you're in a tight spot, or a bind.

Example Sentences

In the meantime the squeeze on supply has pushed up the price of jet fuel sharply - it roughly doubled during March and the first half of April.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

That’s the view on Wall Street, including that of Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Woronka, who wrote about the squeeze in a client note on April 6.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

In his view, the stock’s climb in recent months is “less tied to definitive signs Intel’s execution has improved” and is more about the AI-driven squeeze on advanced chips.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Two investors control over 100% of Avis stock, contributing to a short squeeze that drove prices up until Wednesday’s decline.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

“Turn your head upside down!” somebody said, and somebody else told him to squint his eyes and squeeze his face together.

From "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinson

Related Words

• clutch
• compress
• cram
• crush
• grip
• pack
• pinch
• press
• stuff
• wedge
• wring