Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

press

 - definition
 
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
noun British English pronunciation: press /pres/ 
Word Forms
Close
singularpress
pluralpresses
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1

    the press

     newspapers and news magazines

    the national/local/American/sports press

    the popular/tabloid press

    in the press:

    She has been criticized in the press for not speaking out on this issue.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of press
    1. a.
      journalists and photographers who work for newspapers or news magazines: can be followed by a singular or plural verb

      She finally emerged from her home to face the press.

      It's a meeting for shareholders only, and the press are excluded.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of press
    2. b.
      [only before noun] relating to the press

      a crowd of press photographers

      The story has received extensive press coverage (=reports in newspapers).

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of press
  3. 3
    [countable] a business that publishes books. This word is sometimes used in company names

    His first book was published by Edinburgh University Press.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of press
  5. 5
    [countable] [usually singular] a single push on something such as a button or switch
    give something a press:

    He gave the buzzer one long press.

    at the press of a button (=simply by pressing a button):

    Internet shopping brings the shop to your door at the simple press of a button.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of press
  6. 6
    [singular] an act of making clothes smooth with an iron
    give something a press:

    I'll just give my trousers a quick press and then I'm ready.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of press
  7. 7
    [singular] a large number of people pushing in different directions

    He pushed his way through the press of people.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of press

phrases

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

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

 

charticle

a news article that consists of a chart … and only has a small amount of text

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

electron

a part of an atom that moves around the nucleus (=centre) and has a negative electrical charge

Open Dictionary

never event

an event that should never occur in a healthcare setting …

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog