press

PRES/pɹɛs/

Pluralpresses (some meanings)

Verbpresses, pressing, pressed

26 meanings of press

Practice

1
news medianouncollectiveuncountable
Newspapers and other news organizations, and the people who report the news for them.
The press gathered outside the courthouse before the hearing.
Local press covered the festival in great detail.
UsageSay talk to the press.
Similarmedia
Note
2
push a buttonverbtransitive
To push a button or key so that a machine or device does something.
Like pushing a doorbell and then letting go.
Press the green button to start the machine.
She pressed the key to turn off the alarm.
UsageUse press and hold when you need to keep a button down.
Similarhit, strike, depress
Note
3
verbtransitive or intransitive
To push hard and steadily on something, or move it by pushing.
Like leaning your whole weight on a door to keep it shut.
Press your hand against the wound to slow the bleeding.
The heavy box pressed against the thin wall.
UsageSay press on it or press against it.
Similarpush
Note
4
squeezeverbtransitive
To squeeze something tightly together.
Like squeezing a wet sponge in your hand.
Press the two pieces together until the glue holds.
He pressed the wet sponge until all the water came out.
Similarsqueeze, squash, compress, squish, mash
Note
5
squeezing machinenouncountable
A tool or machine that pushes hard on something.
Like a heavy weight that squashes something flat.
She tightened the press to flatten the dried flowers.
A cheese press squeezes out the extra liquid.
UsageSay a garlic press or a cheese press.
6
publishernouncountable
A company that prints and publishes books or other writing.
Like a bakery, but it makes books instead of bread.
The university press published her first novel last spring.
Several small presses competed for the rights to the book.
Similarpublisher
7
printing machinenouncountable
A machine that prints words and pictures onto paper.
Like a giant stamp that puts ink onto paper over and over.
The old press printed thousands of copies a day.
They fixed the press before the morning run.
UsageAlso called a printing press.
Note
8
verbtransitive
To make something flat or smooth by pushing on it, for example ironing clothes or flattening flowers.
Like flattening playdough with the palm of your hand.
Press the clay until it becomes a flat tile.
She pressed the leaves flat inside the heavy notebook.
UsageSay press it flat.
Similarflatten, iron, stamp
9
weightliftingnouncountable
A workout move where you push a weight away from your body by straightening your arms or legs.
Like pushing a heavy door open by straightening your arms.
He added another press to his shoulder workout.
The trainer showed her a simple chest press.
UsageSay bench press or leg press.
Note
10
nouncountable or uncountable
A single push or act of pushing on something.
Like one quick push on a doorbell.
One press of the button starts the timer.
A gentle press on the bruise made her wince.
UsageSay one press of the button.
Similarpush, squeeze
Note
11
stress a pointverbtransitive
To keep urging a point or idea because you think it really matters.
Like saying the same important thing over and over so no one forgets it.
She pressed her point until everyone agreed it mattered.
I press my case whenever the topic comes up at meetings.
UsageSay press your point.
Similaremphasize
Note
12
verbtransitive
To keep asking or pushing someone strongly to do something or agree to something.
Like begging your parents to let you stay up late.
The children pressed their mother to read one more story.
We press our friends to stay a little longer.
UsageSay press someone to stay.
Similarurge, pressure, push, implore, lobby
13
put under strainverbtransitive
To worry or weigh heavily on someone's mind.
Like a heavy weight sitting on top of your chest.
Grief pressed her heart all through that long winter.
He turns from us; / Alas, he weeps too! Something presses him / He would reveal, but dare not. Sir, be comforted.
c. 1621, John Fletcher, The PilgrimHere, presses means weighs on or troubles his mind.
Note
14
noununcountable
What news reports say about someone or something, often thought of as good or bad.
The new restaurant got great press, and now it is hard to get a table.
The singer did not want any more bad press after the fight.
Similarcoverage, publicity
Note

Less common meanings

15
force on someoneverbtransitive
To keep offering something to someone who may not want it.
Like giving someone a gift they keep trying to refuse.
Don't press your opinions on people who disagree.
She pressed more food on her tired guests.
UsageSay press food on someone.
Similarurge
Note
16
drive onwardverbtransitive
To push someone or something to move faster or keep going.
Like telling a tired friend to hurry up the hill.
The general pressed his troops toward the river before dark.
Mountain guides press the mules up the steep trail.
Similardrive, push, urge, hurry
17
crowd closeverbtransitive or intransitive
To push close together in a big group.
Like people squeezing together to fit into a packed bus.
Hundreds of fans pressed around the singer's car.
Shoppers press toward the doors when the sale opens.
UsageSay people press around someone.
Similarcrowd, gather, throng, flock, mass
Oppositedisperse, scatter
18
packed crowdnoununcountable
A large crowd of people pushed close together.
Like the thick crowd you have to push through at a busy fair.
She lost sight of him in the press of the busy market.
A great press of bodies filled the narrow square.
UsageSay in the press of the crowd.
Similarcrowd, throng, crush
Note
19
hugverbtransitive
To hold or clasp someone closely against your body.
Like hugging a teddy bear tight to your chest.
Parents press their newborns gently to their chests.
She pressed the frightened child close until he calmed down.
UsageSay press someone close.
Similarhug
Note
20
force into navyverbtransitive
To force someone to join the army or navy against their will.
Like being grabbed off the street and made to work, with no choice.
The navy pressed able-bodied men from the harbor taverns.
Recruiters would press any sailor they could lay hands on.
UsageSay pressed into service.
Similarconscript, impress
Note
21
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
An order that lets officials force men to join the navy.
I have misused the king's press.
c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth,”Here, press means the king's order allowing men to be forced into service.
Note
22
cupboardnouncountable
A cupboard or closet built into a wall for storing things.
Like a closet, but built right into the wall.
She kept the spare sheets in the press on the landing.
Every bedroom in the old house had a deep press for clothes.
UsageOften in linen press.
Similarcupboard, closet
Note
23
verbobsoletetransitive
To make printed copies of a book, paper, or picture.
24
nounrare
Fresh grape juice that has not yet turned into wine.
25
noun
In golf, a new bet that matches one you are losing but starts even.
26
noun
Something in your surroundings that stirs up a need inside you.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of press apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 5–7, 9–10, 14, 18, 21–22

This word comes from Middle English 'presse', partly from Old English 'press' (a clothespress) and partly from Old French 'presse', which goes back to Latin 'premere', meaning 'to press'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Press comes from Middle English presse, partly from Old English press, meaning clothespress, and partly from Old French presse, ultimately from Latin premere. en.wiktionary.org
Latin premere means to press. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 2–4, 8, 11–13, 15–17, 19–20, 23

This word comes from Middle English 'pressen' (to crowd, press), from Old French 'presser', which goes back to Latin 'premere', meaning 'to press'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The verb comes from Middle English pressen, meaning to crowd or press, from Old French presser. en.wiktionary.org
Old French presser ultimately derives from Latin premere, meaning to press, through pressāre. en.wiktionary.org