compressed

1 of 2

adjective

com·​pressed kəm-ˈprest 

also ˈkäm-ˌprest

1

: pressed together : reduced in size or volume (as by pressure)

2

: flattened as though subjected to compression:

a

: flattened laterally

petioles compressed

b

: narrow from side to side and deep in a dorsoventral direction

compressedly

kəm-ˈprest-lē  -ˈpre-səd-lē 

adverb

compressed

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of compress entry 1

Examples of compressed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Kerry McCoy’s guitar juices up a mid-song gallop by abruptly pivoting from big and noisy to compressed and snarling; at the climax, everything cuts out for a second to spotlight a Daniel Tracy drum fill. — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

The standout pairing is the Black Cardamom cocktail, smoky with single malt and mezcal, next to Sandhu's nihari reworked with compressed shank meat. — Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

The nation’s communications regulatory body would have to act within a compressed schedule to grant the waiver in time to affect the midterm elections. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

How Hydrodissection Works for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome The goal of hydrodissection for carpal tunnel syndrome is to allow greater movement for the compressed median nerve. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing compressed

• compressed air

Rhymes for compressed

• acquiesced
• coalesced
• dispossessed
• manifest
• overdressed
• overstressed
• prepossessed
• reassessed
• reinvest
• repossessed
• unaddressed
• uncompressed