push

[ poosh ]

/ pʊʃ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR push ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to press upon or against (a thing) with force in order to move it away.

to move (something) in a specified way by exerting force; shove; drive: to push something aside; to push the door open.

to effect or accomplish by thrusting obstacles aside: to push one's way through the crowd.

to cause to extend or project; thrust.

to press or urge to some action or course: His mother pushed him to get a job.

to press (an action, proposal, etc.) with energy and insistence: to push a bill through Congress.

to carry (an action or thing) toward a conclusion or extreme: She pushed the project to completion.

to press the adoption, use, sale, etc., of: to push inferior merchandise on customers.

to press or bear hard upon, as in dealings with someone: The prosecutor pushed him for an answer.

to put into difficulties because of the lack of something specified (usually followed by for): to be pushed for time.

Slang. to peddle (illicit drugs).

Informal. to be approaching a specific age, speed, or the like: The maestro is pushing ninety-two.

Photography. to modify (film processing) to compensate for underexposure.

verb (used without object)

to exert a thrusting force upon something.

to use steady force in moving a thing away; shove.

to make one's way with effort or persistence, as against difficulty or opposition.

to extend or project; thrust: The point of land pushed far out into the sea.

to put forth vigorous or persistent efforts.

Slang. to sell illicit drugs.

to move on being pushed: a swinging door that pushes easily.

noun

the act of pushing; a shove or thrust.

a contrivance or part to be pushed in order to operate a mechanism.

a vigorous onset or effort.

a determined advance against opposition, obstacles, etc.

a vigorous and determined military attack or campaign: The big push began in April.

the pressure of circumstances, activities, etc.

Informal. persevering energy; enterprise.

Informal. a crowd or company of people.

British. dismissal from a job; sack.

Australian Slang. a gang of hoodlums.

Verb Phrases

push around, to treat contemptuously and unfairly; bully: She's not the kind of person who can be pushed around.

push off, Informal. to go away; depart: We stopped at Denver for the night and were ready to push off again the following morning.

push on, to press forward; continue; proceed: The pioneers, despite overwhelming obstacles, pushed on across the plains.

Idioms for push

push one's luck. luck(def 12).

when/if push comes to shove, when or if matters are ultimately confronted or resolved; when or if a problem must be faced; in a crucial situation: If push comes to shove, the government will impose quotas on imports.

Origin of push

1250–1300; Middle English pushen, poshen, posson (v.) < Middle French pousser, Old French po(u)lser < Latin pulsāre. See pulsate

SYNONYMS FOR push

3 shoulder.

5 persuade, impel.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR push ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM push

out·push, verb (used with object) un·pushed, adjective

Words nearby push

purús, pus, pusan, pusey, puseyism, push, push about, push along, push around, push broom, push button

Example sentences from the Web for pushed

Guy Molinari, a former Staten Island borough president, pushed back against that view.

Will Dirty Pol Vito Fossella Replace Dirty Pol Michael Grimm? |David Freedlander |December 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They have pushed into just about every other corner of the Caribbean and Central America where airports exist.

Goodbye, Bahamas. Hello, Havana! |Clive Irving |December 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Add in additional demand, as with a surgical procedure, and the body is pushed to its very limits.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Risky Heart Surgery |Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD |November 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The tough African-French girls living in the projects in Girlhood have been abused and pushed out of the system.

‘Girlhood’: Coming of Age in France’s Projects |Molly Hannon |November 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

I just took my hands and pushed him away and said, ‘What are you doing?’

Bill Cosby’s Long List of Accusers (So Far): 18 Alleged Sexual Assault Victims Between 1965-2004 |Marlow Stern |November 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The marines and bluejackets now pushed bravely on, but encountered a terrific fire from the troops within the forts.

The Three Midshipmen |W.H.G. Kingston
At last one morning they pushed out from the side of the Bridgwater Merchant, more limp than ever.

The Trail of the Sword, Complete |Gilbert Parker
With my stick through the hole, I had up the latch, and pushed the door open.

The Voodoo Gold Trail |Walter Walden
I avoided his shaft, and as his horse bolted past on my left, I pushed him with my shield, and knocked him from the saddle.

The Prince of India, Volume II |Lew. Wallace
The men jumped in themselves; one tall fellow remained till he had pushed off the boat, and then tumbled in upon his companions.

The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 2, Illustrated |Sir Walter Scott

British Dictionary definitions for pushed (1 of 2)

pushed

/ (pʊʃt) /

adjective

(often foll by for) informal short (of) or in need (of time, money, etc)

British Dictionary definitions for pushed (2 of 2)

push

/ (pʊʃ) /

verb

(when tr, often foll by off, away, etc) to apply steady force to (something) in order to move it

to thrust (one's way) through something, such as a crowd, by force

(when intr, often foll by for) to apply oneself vigorously (to achieving a task, plan, etc)

(tr) to encourage or urge (a person) to some action, decision, etc

(when intr, often foll by for) to be an advocate or promoter (of) to push for acceptance of one's theories

(tr) to use one's influence to help (a person) to push one's own candidate

to bear upon (oneself or another person) in order to achieve more effort, better results, etc she was a woman who liked to push her husband

(tr) to take undue risks, esp through overconfidence, thus risking failureto push one's luck
(intr) to act overconfidently

sport to hit (a ball) with a stiff pushing stroke

(tr) informal to sell (narcotic drugs) illegally

(intr; foll by out, into, etc) (esp of geographical features) to reach or extend the cliffs pushed out to the sea

(tr) to overdevelop (a photographic film), usually by the equivalent of up to two stops, to compensate for underexposure or increase contrast

push up daisies or push up the daisies slang to be dead and buried

noun

the act of pushing; thrust

a part or device that is pressed to operate some mechanism

informal ambitious or enterprising drive, energy, etc

informal a special effort or attempt to advance, as of an army in a war to make a push

informal a number of people gathered in one place, such as at a party

Australian slang a group or gang, esp one considered to be a clique

sport a stiff pushing stroke

at a push informal with difficulty; only just

the push informal, mainly British dismissal, esp from employment

when push comes to shove informal when matters become critical; when a decision needs to be made

See also push about, push along, push in, push off, push on, push through

Word Origin for push

C13: from Old French pousser, from Latin pulsāre, from pellere to drive

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

push

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Idioms for push

Origin of push

SYNONYMS FOR push

OTHER WORDS FROM push

Words nearby push

Example sentences from the Web for pushed

British Dictionary definitions for pushed (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for pushed (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for push

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

push

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Idioms for push

Origin of push

SYNONYMS FOR push

OTHER WORDS FROM push

Words nearby push

Words related to pushed

Example sentences from the Web for pushed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for pushed (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for pushed (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for push

British Dictionary definitions for pushed (1 of 2)