1
a
: a crowd or crowded condition : throng
b
: a thronging or crowding forward or together
2
4
b
: an aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area
5
: the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment
out of press
6
a
b
: the act or the process of printing
c
: a printing or publishing establishment
7
a
: the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news : journalism
b
: newspapers, periodicals, and often radio and television news broadcasting
c
: news reporters, publishers, and broadcasters
d
: comment or notice in newspapers and periodicals
is getting a good press
8
: any of various pressure devices (such as one for keeping sporting gear from warping when not in use)
9
: a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then smoothly extended overhead without assist from the legs compare clean and jerk, snatch
pressed; pressing; presses
1
: to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact : squeeze
3
a
: to squeeze out the juice or contents of
b
: to squeeze with apparatus or instruments to a desired density, smoothness, or shape
press [=iron] a shirt
… the drained curds are generally pressed together into solid blocks of cheese.—
Caroline Campion
Caroline Campion5
: to move by means of pressure
6
a
: to lay stress or emphasis on
b
: to insist on or request urgently
7
: to follow through (a course of action)
8
: to clasp in affection or courtesy
9
: to make (a phonograph record) from a matrix (see matrix sense 2d)
also
: to make (another kind of disk, such as a CD) by a similar process
pressed; pressing; presses
1
: to force into service especially in an army or navy : impress
2
a
: to take by authority especially for public use : commandeer
b
: to take and force into any usually emergency service
: to impress men as soldiers or sailors
1
: impressment into service especially in a navy
2
obsolete
: a warrant for impressing recruits
Synonyms
Examples of press in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebKara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Apr. 2024
But a press badge does allow reporters under the tree and lots of interviews take place there.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
For the Challengers press tour, on the other hand, Zendaya has fully leaned into a sporty chic vibe.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Happily for us, the Challengers press tour is far from over yet–meaning there’s plenty more killer looks to come.
—Emily Chan, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Marshall Weinbaum, a 17-year veteran of Disney’s PR department, was the mastermind behind what might be the most chilling press campaign since those missing person posters went up at Sundance for The Blair Witch Project.
—Benjamin Svetkey, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The British press were equally resistant to any sartorial strategy that might have been in play.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
With the closure, hundreds of indie presses and authors are now scrambling to figure out how to pick up the pieces and move forward.
—Emily St Martin, Orange County Register, 9 Apr. 2024
Tyler, who pushed back against the notion that Biden is avoiding the traditional press, said that putting their energy into outlets with targeted reach is one component of a savvy communications strategy.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Finally, tap twice to answer or end a call, or press and hold to reject an incoming call.
—Mark Knapp, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
But this moment brings up a pressing question: Why did the first female Coachella headliner from L.A. need to skirt around the traditional hip-hop route to become a superstar?
—Liz Sanchez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Starting on dry skin, apply your toner-essence and press firmly into the skin.
—Samantha Mims, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Either cut a round just large enough to fit inside your pot, or press a larger piece into the pot touching the surface, and letting the edges stand up.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
The birds of Eagle Pass called it out, careering noisily over the rooftops of this city on the border, and Mireya Muñoz pressed her hands together to pray.
—Christopher Maag, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
While Marion said people with polluted wells were showing up in droves to demand answers at county board meetings when the first round of study results dropped in 2019, both the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of other pressing environmental issues, like PFAS, have deflated most of that pressure.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
The House has a slim GOP majority and is consumed with pressing matters, including a national security funding package that would support Ukraine, Israel and other allies.
—Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
Zendaya went blonde for the Challengers press tour, and keeps dropping look after look.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Apr. 2024
But a press badge does allow reporters under the tree and lots of interviews take place there.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
For the Challengers press tour, on the other hand, Zendaya has fully leaned into a sporty chic vibe.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Happily for us, the Challengers press tour is far from over yet–meaning there’s plenty more killer looks to come.
—Emily Chan, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Marshall Weinbaum, a 17-year veteran of Disney’s PR department, was the mastermind behind what might be the most chilling press campaign since those missing person posters went up at Sundance for The Blair Witch Project.
—Benjamin Svetkey, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The British press were equally resistant to any sartorial strategy that might have been in play.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
With the closure, hundreds of indie presses and authors are now scrambling to figure out how to pick up the pieces and move forward.
—Emily St Martin, Orange County Register, 9 Apr. 2024
Tyler, who pushed back against the notion that Biden is avoiding the traditional press, said that putting their energy into outlets with targeted reach is one component of a savvy communications strategy.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
Verb
Local and state leaders are convening in Fort Worth this week to discuss two pressing issues within early childhood education: diversification of how pre-K is offered to families and improvement of the working conditions and credentials of early educators.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Finally, tap twice to answer or end a call, or press and hold to reject an incoming call.
—Mark Knapp, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
But this moment brings up a pressing question: Why did the first female Coachella headliner from L.A. need to skirt around the traditional hip-hop route to become a superstar?
—Liz Sanchez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Starting on dry skin, apply your toner-essence and press firmly into the skin.
—Samantha Mims, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Either cut a round just large enough to fit inside your pot, or press a larger piece into the pot touching the surface, and letting the edges stand up.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
The birds of Eagle Pass called it out, careering noisily over the rooftops of this city on the border, and Mireya Muñoz pressed her hands together to pray.
—Christopher Maag, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
While Marion said people with polluted wells were showing up in droves to demand answers at county board meetings when the first round of study results dropped in 2019, both the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of other pressing environmental issues, like PFAS, have deflated most of that pressure.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
The House has a slim GOP majority and is consumed with pressing matters, including a national security funding package that would support Ukraine, Israel and other allies.
—Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'press.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near press
Cite this Entry
“Press.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
press
1 of 3 noun2
: a machine or device that uses pressure to shape, flatten, squeeze, or stamp
a cookie press
a cider press
4
a
: an act of pressing : pressure
b
: an aggressive defense in basketball
5
: the smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment
6
a
b
: a printing or publishing business
7
a
: the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news
b
: the newspapers and magazines of a country
c
: news reporters and broadcasters
press
2 of 3 verb1
: to bear down upon : push steadily against
2
: to squeeze so as to force out the juice or contents of
press apples to make cider
3
: to flatten out or smooth by bearing down upon (as with an iron)
press clothes
4
5
a
: to insist on
didn't press the issue
b
: to make a demand
pressing for higher wages
6
a
: to crowd closely
reporters pressed around the celebrity
b
: to force or push one's way
pressed deeper into the jungle
presser
noun
press
3 of 3 verb
: to force into emergency service
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