Definition of jostle
jostled;
jostling
play
\ˈjā-s(ə-)liŋ\
intransitive verb
1 a
: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
1 a
: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
