press

[ pres ]

/ prɛs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR press ON THESAURUS.COM

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: to press for payment of a debt; to press for an answer.

to emphasize or propound forcefully; insist upon: He pressed his own ideas on us.

to plead with insistence: to press a claim.

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 or bad): The play received a good press. The minister's visit got a bad press.

printing 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.

Idioms for press

go to press, to begin being printed: The last edition has gone to press.

press the flesh, Informal. flesh(def 24).

Origin of press

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English press(e) throng, company, trouble, machine for pressing, clothespress < Old French, derivative of presser to press < Latin pressāre, frequentative of premere (past participle pressus) to press (compare rare Old English press clothespress < Medieval Latin pressa, noun use of feminine of pressus); (v.) Middle English pressen (< Old French presser) < Latin pressāre, as above

SYNONYMS FOR press

9 annoy, worry, torment, assail, besiege.

11 induce, persuade, beg, implore.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR press ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM press

press·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby press

presort, prespa, presphygmic, presphygmic interval, presque isle, press, press agency, press agent, press association, press baron, press bed

Definition for press (2 of 3)

press ²

[ pres ]

/ prɛs /

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.

Origin of press

1535–45; back formation from prest, past participle of obsolete prest to take (men) for military service, v. use of prest² in sense “enlistment money”

Definition for press (3 of 3)

Press

[ pres ]

/ prɛs /

noun

a male given name.

Example sentences from the Web for press

Sadly, it appears the American press often doesn't need any outside help when it comes to censoring themselves.

Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead |Luke O’Neil |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
This time it would be the biggest mistake for the Western press to repeat that—absolutely the biggest mistake.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive |Ayaan Hirsi Ali |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
But the most important point I want to make is about what the press does now.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive |Ayaan Hirsi Ali |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
At a press conference today with Scalise, Speaker Boehner again defended him.

The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence |Jason Berry |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

Boyce was asked at a press conference if Polanco went peacefully.

Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown |Michael Daly |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Would not that indefinite expression, the liberty of the press, extend to the justification of every possible publication?

A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings |Noah Webster
The attempt to fix certain opinions on the nation which were pleasing Liberty of the press.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 5 |Various
And he began to flourish it over his head, and to press nearer and nearer.

The Gold Thread |Norman MacLeod
This time public rage and dissatisfaction was more intensified than ever, and the Press was outspoken.

The Secrets of a Kuttite |Edward O. Mousley
Here, beyond doubt, the Jason press had produced a powerful impression.

The Blue Germ |Martin Swayne

British Dictionary definitions for press (1 of 2)

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

(when intr, often foll by on or forward) 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

(tr) archaic to trouble or oppress

press charges 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

at the press or in the press being printed

to press or to the press to be printed when is this book going to press?

the press

news media and agencies collectively, esp newspapers
(as modifier)a press matter; press relations

the press 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

Word Origin for press

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

British Dictionary definitions for press (2 of 2)

press ²

/ (prɛs) /

verb (tr)

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

Word Origin for press

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

Idioms and Phrases with press

press

In addition to the idioms beginning with press

pressed for time
press into service
press on
press one's luck
press the flesh

also see:

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

Also see underpush.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

press

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Idioms for press

Origin of press

SYNONYMS FOR press

OTHER WORDS FROM press

Words nearby press

Definition for press (2 of 3)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of press

Definition for press (3 of 3)

noun

Example sentences from the Web for press

British Dictionary definitions for press (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for press

British Dictionary definitions for press (2 of 2)

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for press

Idioms and Phrases with press

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

press

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Idioms for press

Origin of press

SYNONYMS FOR press

OTHER WORDS FROM press

Words nearby press

Definition for press (2 of 3)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of press

Definition for press (3 of 3)

noun

Words related to press

Example sentences from the Web for press

British Dictionary definitions for press (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for press

British Dictionary definitions for press (2 of 2)

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for press

Idioms and Phrases with press