compressed

adjective

com·​pressed kəm-ˈprest How to pronounce compressed (audio)
 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

Examples of compressed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This would be fired out by compressed air or other gas, then unfold its wings, making for a quicker and easier launch but at the cost of some cost and complexity. David Hambling, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 This can be so severe that the US Civil Air Administration once built a chicken gun that used compressed air to fire bird carcasses at airframes to simulate avian impacts. New Atlas, 9 July 2025 Get creative when a vacuum fails to clean out a dusty area: maybe a blowdryer or a blast of compressed air will work. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 9 July 2025 Many of the district’s buses run on compressed natural gas, which reduces pollutants, Donaghy said. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for compressed

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of compressed was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compressed. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on compressed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!