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press

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verb American English pronunciation: press /pres/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theypress
he/she/itpresses
present participlepressing
past tensepressed
past participlepressed
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive/transitive] to push one thing against another
    press against:

    Her face was pressing against his chest.

    press something against something:

    Children were pressing their faces against the window.

    press yourself against something:

    They had to press themselves against the wall to let the horse pass.

    press something to something:

    Even with the phone pressed to his ear, he couldn’t hear what she was saying.

    press something into something:

    The minister pressed a bible into his hand.

    press down on something:

    He felt the enormous weight of the man pressing down on his back.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  pressThesaurus entry for this meaning of press
    1. a.
      [transitive] to push something such as a button or switch in order to make a piece of equipment start working

      To read your e-mail, press the return key.

      Could you press the button for the third floor, please?

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  pressThesaurus entry for this meaning of press
  2. 2
    [intransitive] to move as a group by pushing together in a particular direction
    press forward:

    A wave of protesters pressed forward toward the building.

    press around:

    The crowd of fans began to press more closely around them.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  pressThesaurus entry for this meaning of press
  3. 3
    [transitive] to try in a determined way to make someone do something or tell you something
    press someone about/on something:

    She continued to press him on the reasons for his decision.

    press someone into (doing) something:

    They had all been pressed into helping with the preparations for the party.

    press someone to do something:

    Managers are being pressed to ensure safety standards are met.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  pressThesaurus entry for this meaning of press
    1. a.
      to try to make someone accept something such as an opinion or a claim
      press a point:

      She gave no answer, so I didn’t press the point.

      press a claim:

      The young Duke of Normandy continued to press his claim to the English throne.

      press a case:

      He was in Washington today to press the case for reforming tax laws.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  pressThesaurus entry for this meaning of press

This is the American English definition of press. View British English definition of press.

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