push
16 ENTRIES FOUND:
pushes;
pushed;
pushing
pushes;
pushed;
pushing
Britannica Dictionary definition of PUSH
1
:
to use force to move (someone or something) forward or away from you
— often used figuratively
[+ object]
-
Please stop pushing me.
-
Do you want to push the shopping cart?
-
Push [=press] the button to turn on the computer.
-
He slowly pushed the door open.
-
She pushed back her chair and stood up.
-
She pushed him aside and marched into the boss's office.
-
He pushed her out of the way.
-
He pushed me into the table.
-
He was pushed off the sidewalk into the street.
-
She pushed her wet hair back/away from her face.
-
The bulldozer pushed the rubble over the edge of the pit.
-
Larger companies are pushing [=forcing] smaller ones into bankruptcy.
-
Poverty pushed them to the breaking point.
-
He pushed aside [=put aside] his fear of rejection and asked her out on a date.
-
She pushed her doubts to the back of her mind. = She pushed her doubts out of her mind. [=she tried not to think about her doubts]
[no object]
-
No matter how hard I pushed, I couldn't move the boulder.
-
He pushed and pulled to loosen the post from the ground.
-
She pushed against the door, but it wouldn't open.
2
:
to go forward while using your hands, arms etc., to forcefully move people or things that are blocking you
— often + through
[no object]
-
Quit (your) pushing and shoving. Can't you see there are a lot of people ahead of you in line?
-
The paramedics pushed through the crowd.
[+ object]
-
They pushed their way to the front row.
3
[+ object]
a
:
to force or try to force or persuade (someone) to do something
-
He pushed his son to play football.
-
He pushed them to accept his plan.
-
She pushed him into trying out for the team.
b
:
to force (someone) to work hard at something in order to achieve success
-
The coach tends to push his players too hard.
-
Her teachers pushed her to succeed.
-
She was tired but she pushed herself to keep working.
c
:
to do or say things that cause trouble for (someone)
-
He kept pushing his parents until they had no choice but to punish him.
-
If you push him too far, you'll regret it.
4
[no object]
a
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to continue moving forward in a forceful or steady way
— usually + ahead, forward, or on
-
The explorers pushed (along) deep into the jungle.
-
The army pushed [=pressed] on in spite of the snow.
-
They were tired, but they kept pushing ahead.
b
:
to continue to do something especially in a determined way
— usually + ahead, forward, or on
-
If we want to succeed, we have to keep pushing.
-
The city pushed [=pressed] ahead/forward with its plans to build a casino.
-
They pushed on with their plans.
5
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[+ object]
:
to force (someone or something) to move away from a place
-
The troops pushed the enemy from the city.
-
Settlers pushed the native people off their land.
6
[+ object]
:
to cause (something) to be accepted, completed, etc., by making a special effort
-
The senators are trying to push the bill through Congress.
-
All of the editorial staff helped to push the project to completion.
7
[no object]
:
to make a strong, continuous effort to get or do something
— often + for
— often followed by to + verb
-
The workers are pushing hard for higher wages.
-
Town residents are pushing to prevent the shopping mall from being built.
8
[+ object]
a
:
to make a strong effort to sell (something)
-
We're pushing last year's models to make room for this year's.
b
:
to try to make (something) more popular, well-known, etc., by talking about it
-
He went on the talk show to push [=promote] his new film.
c
:
to repeat (something) in order to show that it is important
-
They kept pushing [=pressing] the issue.
-
We need to get them to do something, but we don't want to push the point too much.
9
[+ object]
informal
:
to sell (illegal drugs)
-
He was arrested for pushing drugs.
10
[+ object]
a
:
to go up to and often beyond (a limit)
-
His humor pushes the limits of bad taste.
-
She is always pushing her body's limits with new physical challenges.
b
informal
:
to get close to (an age or number)
— always used as (be) pushing
-
She must be pushing 80. [=she must be almost 80 years old]
-
The game was played in front of a crowd pushing 50,000. [=a crowd of almost 50,000 people]
11
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[+ object]
:
to cause or force (something) to change in a specified way
-
The cost of oil has pushed gas prices higher/up. [=has raised gas prices]
-
Stock prices have been pushed down. [=have been lowered]
-
Gas prices have been pushed [=raised] to record levels.
12
[+ object]
sports
:
to hit (a ball) toward the right from a right-handed swing or toward the left from a left-handed swing
—
compare pull
-
(golf) She pushed her drive into the rough.
be pushing up daisies
push around
[phrasal verb] also British push about
push (someone) around/about
:
to try to force (someone) to do what you want by making threats, using force, etc.
-
Don't let the bigger boys push you around—stand up for yourself!
push back
[phrasal verb]
push back (something)
or
push (something) back
:
to change (a planned event) to start at a later date or time
-
The date of the meeting has been pushed back from Tuesday to Thursday.
-
The start time of the game has been pushed back from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
push in
[phrasal verb] British
:
to move in front of other people who are waiting in a line
-
He pushed in at the head of the queue. [=(US) he cut in at the head of the line]
push it/things
informal
:
to continue to do or to try to do something when you should stop
-
If your mom already said “no” two times, don't push it. [=don't keep asking her] You'll just make her mad.
-
You've won a lot of money, but don't push it [=don't push your luck] or you could lose it all.
-
She pushed things too far and lost all her winnings.
push off
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to move from a place or position by pushing against a surface with something
-
She pushed off (from shore) with her oar and started paddling.
-
His ankle injury prevented him from pushing off with his left foot when he was skating.
2
British, informal
:
to go away
:
leave
— used in speech as a rude or angry way of telling someone to go away
-
Push off [=get lost], mate.
push on
[phrasal verb]
push (something) on (someone)
:
to force (someone) to accept (something)
—
see also 1push 4 (above)
-
He's always trying to push his political beliefs on other people.
push over
[phrasal verb]
1
push over (someone or something)
or
push (someone or something) over
:
to make (someone or something) fall to the ground by pushing
-
He pushed the smaller child over.
-
She pushed over the statue.
2
US, informal
:
to move so that there is room for someone else to sit or stand next to you
-
Push over [=shove over] so that I can sit down, too.
push paper(s)
push the envelope
push your luck
2
push
/ˈpʊʃ/
noun
plural
pushes
2
push
/ˈpʊʃ/
noun
plural
pushes
Britannica Dictionary definition of PUSH
[count]
1
:
an act of pushing something or someone
— usually singular
-
He gave me a push. [=he pushed me]
-
Give the door a push to open it.
-
The computer starts with the push of a button.
-
At the push of a button, you can change a color photo into a black-and-white one.
2
:
a large, organized military attack
— usually singular
— often used figuratively
-
They're making a final push against enemy forces.
-
The army has launched a push toward the capital.
-
The company is making a push into foreign markets. [=the company is entering foreign markets]
3
:
a strong, continuous effort to get or achieve something
— usually singular
— often + for
— often followed by to + verb
-
Despite a multimillion dollar marketing push, the movie flopped.
-
Workers are making a determined push for higher wages.
-
a push to improve public schools
at a push
British, informal
:
with some difficulty
:
by making a special effort
-
We can fit five people in the car, six at a push.
get the push
British, informal
:
to lose your job
:
to be fired from your job
-
The employees with less experience got the push. [=were fired; got the ax]
give (someone) the push
British, informal
:
to dismiss (someone) from a job
:
to fire (someone)
-
His boss gave him the push. [=gave him the ax]
push comes to shove
informal
— used to describe what happens when a situation becomes very serious or difficult and action needs to be taken
-
He backed down when push came to shove.
-
He'll surrender if push comes to shove.
