DictionaryAI

pressure

PRESH-ur/ˈpɹɛʃɚ/UKPRESH-uh/ˈpɹɛʃə(ɹ)/

Pluralpressures

Verbpressures, pressuring, pressured

6 meanings of pressure

Practice

  1. 1
    outside demandsnouncountable or uncountable
    A force or feeling that pushes you toward or away from doing something.

    Like a strong wind pushing against you as you try to walk.

    Peer pressure made him try things he didn't really want to do.

    She finally gave in to the pressure from her friends.

    UsageYou put pressure on someone. You can give in to pressure or work under pressure.

    Similarweight

    Note
  2. 2
    physics measurenouncountable or uncountable
    The force pushing on a surface divided by the area it acts on.

    Like pressing with one finger instead of your whole hand: the same push feels stronger on a smaller spot.

    We checked the air pressure in our bike tires before the ride.

    Deep underwater, the pressure can crush a small submarine.

    UsageSay pressure is high or low, and that it goes up or goes down.

    Note
  3. 3
    pressing forcenoununcountable
    A push made when something presses against a surface.

    Like pressing your thumb down on a balloon.

    She felt the pressure of his hand on her shoulder.

    The pressure from the heavy box left marks on the table.

    UsageYou put pressure on something by pressing it. For a cut, people say apply pressure to it.

    Similarforce

    Note
  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To strongly push or persuade someone to do something.

    Like pushing someone from behind to make them move.

    They pressured him into signing the contract.

    Don't let anyone pressure you into a quick decision.

    UsageSay pressure someone into doing something, or pressure someone to do it.

    Similarpush, pressurize, urge, coerce, force

  5. 5
    stressnoununcountable
    The worried feeling you get when you have too much to do, too little time, or other problems.

    Like a clock ticking down that pushes you to hurry.

    She felt so much pressure before her exam that she could not sleep.

    With three tests this week, I feel a lot of pressure.

    UsageYou feel pressure or are under pressure, for example the pressure of exams.

Less common meaning

  1. 6
    nounobsoletecountable
    A mark or stamp pressed into a surface.
    All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past.
    c. 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”Here, pressures means marks or images pressed into the mind.
    Note

Practice

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

Origin

From Latin "pressūra."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact