jostle

verb

jos·tle | \ ˈjä-səl

jostled; jostling\ ˈjā-s(ə-)liŋ

Definition of jostle

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to come in contact or into collision a jostling crowd

b : to make one's way by pushing and shoving people jostling toward the exit

c : to exist in close proximity

2 : to vie in gaining an objective : contend tribes began to jostle with one another for room— Daniel Defoe

transitive verb

1a : to come in contact or into collision with being jostled by the crowd

b : to force by pushing : elbow jostled his way through the crowd

c : to stir up : agitate thunder jostled us awake

d : to exist in close proximity with Europe, where a number of languages jostle each other— D. G. Mandelbaum

2 : to vie with in attaining an objective an enormous industry in which a great many companies and interests jostle each other fiercely — Washington Post

jostle

noun

Definition of jostle (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the experience of being pushed or jostled (see jostle entry 1) might glide through … life among them without a jostle— Thomas Jefferson

2 : the state of being crowded or pushed together : the state of being jostled the state fair is deliberately about the crowds and jostle, the noise and overload of sight and event— David Foster Wallace

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about jostle

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Examples of jostle in a Sentence

Verb

Everyone in the crowd was jostling each other trying to get a better view. everyone glared at the man who jostled to the front of the line

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

With just three events left of the regular season, some of the world's top riders will be jostling for position at the breathtaking Stadio dei Marmi venue. — Ben Church, CNN, "Rome hosts equestrian's elite in gladiatorial venue," 4 Sep. 2019 According to a video captured by a door camera at Dorsey’s home, Espinoza jostled the door handle while Dorsey yelled at him to leave. — Erin Logan, baltimoresun.com, "‘I can’t imagine he would be violent’: Neighbors question Howard police’s handling of fatal shooting," 22 July 2019 The first tax-filing season under the new law jostled the upper-middle class, as people making between $100,000 and $250,000 became less likely to receive refunds and more likely to owe money with their returns. — Richard Rubin And Anthony Debarros, WSJ, "You Filed Returns. The IRS Compiled the Data. Here’s How the New Tax Law Is Working.," 2 July 2019 But the format also means that, once again, 10 candidates will be jostling for speaking time — a situation that can lend itself more to sound bites than to in-depth, well, debate. — Maggie Astor, BostonGlobe.com, "The September Democratic debate will be one night only," 29 Aug. 2019 The one-night format means that, once again, 10 candidates will be jostling for speaking time — a situation that can lend itself more to sound bites than to in-depth, well, debate. — Maggie Astor, New York Times, "The September Democratic Debate Will Be One Night Only," 29 Aug. 2019 The Democratic candidates are jostling to position themselves as the antidote to Trump’s racist tweets. — Philip Elliott, Time, "Joe Biden is Ready for a Debate Rematch. This Time He's in a Fighting Mood.," 31 July 2019 Five actors are currently jostling for the lead role. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Baz Luhrmann Is Making an Elvis Presley Biopic. Here's Everything We Know.," 2 July 2019 After an hour or so, so many clients were jostling to put their hands in their pockets and buy the pieces there and then that company reps had to introduce a reservation system. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, "In Milan, Dolce & Gabbana Go Fatto a Mano," 14 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Density waves, caused by the motion of shepherd moons within the rings, jostle and reshape the rings. — Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, "A brief astronomical history of Saturn’s amazing rings," 14 Aug. 2019 Push-carts loaded with sacks of grain bump and jostle through the hubbub. — The Economist, "How do you reform a country where gunmen torch Ebola clinics?," 2 Aug. 2019 Bahand’s appointment comes at a crucial time in ties between Moscow and Kabul, as the Kremlin jostles for a new era of influence in the country. — Washington Post, "This Afghan ambassador in Moscow mixes diplomacy and Dostoevsky," 20 July 2019 The deal is a setback for Sherwin-Williams as a few big U.S. paint makers buy up small rivals and jostle for market share. — Austen Hufford, WSJ, "Berkshire Hathaway’s Benjamin Moore to Become Main Paint Supplier for Ace Hardware," 10 July 2019 Both teams rushed out on the field, but there were no punches thrown; there were a few solid shoves, many light jostles and several pairs of teammates restraining each other. — Emma Baccellieri, SI.com, "'What Are You Looking At?': The Question That Started the Pirates-Braves Basebrawl," 10 June 2019 This allowed the jostle of distinctive forms, rather than a monolithic mass. — John King, SFChronicle.com, "Well-crafted Jackson Square condos rich in design inspiration," 2 July 2018 In the engrossing West Cork, about the 1996 murder in Ireland of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier, four accents in English jostle for dominance—and, with them, worldviews. — Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, "Seduce Me! The Untainted Sweet Sounds of Accent-Riddled Podcasts," 1 June 2018 Bright blue banners for al-Sadr's election alliance jostle for space along streets lined with martyr posters and images of al-Sadr and his father. — Susannah George, Fox News, "Iraqi Shiite cleric gained ground with nationalist voice," 14 May 2018

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