crush

verb

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\ ˈkrəsh

crushed; crushing; crushes

Definition of crush

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to squeeze or force by pressure so as to alter or destroy structure crush grapes

b : to squeeze together into a mass She crushed her clothes into a bag.

2 : to reduce to particles by pounding or grinding crush rock

3a : to subdue completely The rebellion was crushed.

b : to cause overwhelming emotional pain to (someone) Her insults crushed him.

c : to oppress or burden grievously crushed by debt

d : to suppress or overwhelm as if by pressure or weight

4 : crowd, push were crushed into the elevator

5 : hug, embrace She crushed her child to her breast.

6 archaic : drink

intransitive verb

1 : to advance with or as if with crushing The crowd crushed ruthlessly toward the exit.

2 : to become crushed The stewed tomatoes crush easily.

3 obsolete : crash

4 informal : to experience an intense and usually passing infatuation : to have a crush on someone —usually used with onShe's been crushing on him all summer.Turns out Fat Monica was motivated to lose all the weight after she overhead Chandler (whom she was crushing on) tell Ross: "I don't want to be stuck here all night with your fat sister." — Entertainment Weekly

crush

noun

Definition of crush (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an intense and usually passing infatuation have a crush on someone also : the object of infatuation

2a : crowd, mob especially : a crowd of people pressing against one another

b : a crowding together (as of people)

3 : an act of crushing

4 : the quantity of material crushed

Other Words from crush Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about crush

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Choose the Right Synonym for crush

Noun

crowd, throng, horde, crush, mob mean an assembled multitude. crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together. a crowd gathered throng and horde suggest movement and pushing. a throng of reporters a horde of shoppers crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort. a crush of fans mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence. an angry mob

Examples of crush in a Sentence

Verb Unfortunately some of the flowers got crushed when we were moving them. The bicycle was crushed under the truck's tires. The machine crushes the cans so that they can be stored until they are recycled. Her arm was crushed in the accident. Crush the nuts and sprinkle them on top of the cake. The rocks were crushed into dust. Noun Yesterday I saw my old high school crush for the first time in five years. The crush in the train station is at its worst during the afternoon rush hour. Outside the hotel stood a crush of reporters waiting for her arrival.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Michigan gets crushed by Ohio State and then loses the bowl game. — Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football vs. Alabama predictions: Do Wolverines have a chance in Citrus Bowl?," 31 Dec. 2019 The odds are the 49ers’ championship chances would be crushed with a loss to the Seahawks. — Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, "A loss in Seattle could mean 49ers wave bye-bye to Super Bowl dream," 28 Dec. 2019 The samples will be crushed and heated in a carousel of ovens to produce gases that may reveal signs of current or ancient microbial life. — The Economist, "The World in 2020 The rush to Mars in 2020," 22 Dec. 2019 They're also being crushed up into microfine particles and added to concealers to create brightening formulas. — Devon Abelman, Allure, "The Biggest Makeup Trends and Product Innovations Coming in 2020," 21 Dec. 2019 The passenger side of his vehicle, however, was crushed under the weight of the bus. — Paulina Pineda, azcentral, "Tempe City Council candidate hurt after car rolled under school bus in crash," 11 Dec. 2019 It was brutally crushed, beginning a decadeslong cycle of repression that culminated, eventually, in the August 2017 massacre. 2. — Catesby Holmes, The Conversation, "Myanmar charged with genocide of Rohingya Muslims: 5 essential reads," 11 Dec. 2019 Unfortunately, the voices of the sane and the moderate are usually crushed in revolutionary cycles where extremism operates on its own logic and trajectory — until chaos and cannibalism finally lead even to the extremists’ own suicide. — Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "Democrats’ Cannibalistic Ideology," 10 Dec. 2019 The Blazers were crushed by FAU in the league title game, 49-6, but are still in-play for consecutive 10-win seasons. — Evan Dudley, al, "UAB accepts bid to R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl," 8 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun More news Today's comics Today's obituaries Today in history AROUND THE WORLD: On Dec. 3, 1979, 11 people were killed in a crush of fans at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum, where the British rock group The Who was performing. — oregonlive, "Former state foster care manager keeps job despite complaints, lawsuit: Morning Briefing for Monday, Dec. 2," 2 Dec. 2019 In all, 96 people lost their lives during a crush of fans following an FA Cup semifinal tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. — Aj Willingham, CNN, "5 things to know for November 29: Climate strikes, Afghanistan, North Korea, UK," 29 Nov. 2019 Bloomberg plans to bypass the first four states on the primary calendar — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina — and focus instead on the crush of states that vote on Super Tuesday and beyond. — Steve Peoples, Anchorage Daily News, "Michael Bloomberg launches Democratic presidential bid," 24 Nov. 2019 Bloomberg plans to bypass the first four states on the primary calendar — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina — and focus instead on the crush of states that vote on Super Tuesday and beyond. — Arkansas Online, "Michael Bloomberg launches Democratic presidential bid," 24 Nov. 2019 Bloomberg plans to bypass the first four states on the primary calendar — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina — and focus instead on the crush of states that vote on Super Tuesday and beyond. — Steve Peoples, Twin Cities, "Michael Bloomberg launches Democratic presidential bid," 24 Nov. 2019 The park’s amphitheater which seats about 450 people and an adjacent grassy area overlooking the lake quickly vanished beneath the crush of concert goers. — Rich Heileman, cleveland.com, "Coe Lake concerts draw overflow crowds: Around The Town," 2 Aug. 2019 The queen also negotiates with a British officer, Ellis (Ben Lamb), who respects her (and, it's suggested, has a crush on her). — Mark Jenkins, Houston Chronicle, "‘Warrior Queen of Jhansi’ is pretty but dull," 13 Nov. 2019 The tragedy occurred in 1989, when 96 football fans died as a result of a crush at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium. — SI.com, "Liverpool Report Manchester United Over Hillsborough Disaster Chanting During WSL Match," 29 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crush.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.