1
a
: a crowd or crowded condition : throng
b
: a thronging or crowding forward or together
2
4
b
: an aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area
5
: the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment
out of press
6
a
b
: the act or the process of printing
c
: a printing or publishing establishment
7
a
: the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news : journalism
b
: newspapers, periodicals, and often radio and television news broadcasting
c
: news reporters, publishers, and broadcasters
d
: comment or notice in newspapers and periodicals
is getting a good press
8
: any of various pressure devices (such as one for keeping sporting gear from warping when not in use)
9
: a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then smoothly extended overhead without assist from the legs compare clean and jerk, snatch
pressed; pressing; presses
1
: to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact : squeeze
3
a
: to squeeze out the juice or contents of
b
: to squeeze with apparatus or instruments to a desired density, smoothness, or shape
press [=iron] a shirt
… the drained curds are generally pressed together into solid blocks of cheese.—
Caroline Campion
Caroline Campion5
: to move by means of pressure
6
a
: to lay stress or emphasis on
b
: to insist on or request urgently
7
: to follow through (a course of action)
8
: to clasp in affection or courtesy
9
: to make (a phonograph record) from a matrix (see matrix sense 2d)
also
: to make (another kind of disk, such as a CD) by a similar process
pressed; pressing; presses
1
: to force into service especially in an army or navy : impress
2
a
: to take by authority especially for public use : commandeer
b
: to take and force into any usually emergency service
: to impress men as soldiers or sailors
1
: impressment into service especially in a navy
2
obsolete
: a warrant for impressing recruits
Synonyms
Examples of press in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Weboregonlive, 2 Sep. 2023
As their romance bloomed, the British press pounced.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023
View full post on Instagram My typical upper-body workout includes a bench press, shoulder press, triceps pull-down, incline press, and cable shoulder raises.
—Women's Health, 1 Sep. 2023
The presidential campaign now unfolding will test the ability of our political press to separate the wheat from the chaff among candidates as never before.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Plus, find a few more coffee favorites, like scales, French presses, and manual grinders that will keep you caffeinated for back-to-school season.
—Mackenzie Chung Fegan, Bon Appétit, 31 Aug. 2023
Instead, Searchlight is offering up below-the-line heads of department for press junkets.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2023
Read full article Reporters and television cameras have descended upon the town to cover the raids, which were roundly condemned by news organizations and free press advocates.
—Kevin Draper, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
But that could easily change since Legendary is said to be insistent on a full press tour by the cast, which also includes Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Aug. 2023
Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
As early as February 2022, Democratic City Councilman Eric Costello began pressing former BOPA CEO Donna Drew Sawyer for assurances that the festival would return that year.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2023
But earlier this month, an appeals court pressed pause on that ruling, which caused confusion about whether or not signatures collected after the original 60-day timeline can be counted.
—Riley Bunch, ajc, 14 Sep. 2023
But South Korea has been pressed by the United States, its most important ally, to help the war effort.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
On Wednesday, Heilemann pressed the group — who last played together at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2002 — on whether the enthusiastic fan response to Stop Making Sense could inspire a reunion of sorts.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2023
The temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge David Urias pressed pause on the policy, which had suspended open and concealed carry laws in Albuquerque and surrounding Bernalillo County.
—Marisa Iati, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
The county budget office has been pressed hard to finalize a budget on time after months of uncertainty surrounding payroll issues that left thousands of employees and vendors incorrectly paid or unpaid.
—Josephine Peterson, Dallas News, 13 Sep. 2023
Most warts have a hard, rough surface and are slightly raised on the skin surface, but those on the sole of the foot (plantar warts) are pressed flat by body weight.
—Parents Editors, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
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Noun
Below are initial live updates from Lanning’s press conferece.
—oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2023
As their romance bloomed, the British press pounced.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023
View full post on Instagram My typical upper-body workout includes a bench press, shoulder press, triceps pull-down, incline press, and cable shoulder raises.
—Women's Health, 1 Sep. 2023
The presidential campaign now unfolding will test the ability of our political press to separate the wheat from the chaff among candidates as never before.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Plus, find a few more coffee favorites, like scales, French presses, and manual grinders that will keep you caffeinated for back-to-school season.
—Mackenzie Chung Fegan, Bon Appétit, 31 Aug. 2023
Instead, Searchlight is offering up below-the-line heads of department for press junkets.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2023
Read full article Reporters and television cameras have descended upon the town to cover the raids, which were roundly condemned by news organizations and free press advocates.
—Kevin Draper, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
But that could easily change since Legendary is said to be insistent on a full press tour by the cast, which also includes Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Aug. 2023
Verb
News of O’Brien’s suspension unsettled those in the industry who have pressed the commission to reshape its regulations after the Legislature last year approved sweeping changes to the state’s marijuana laws.
—Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
As early as February 2022, Democratic City Councilman Eric Costello began pressing former BOPA CEO Donna Drew Sawyer for assurances that the festival would return that year.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2023
But earlier this month, an appeals court pressed pause on that ruling, which caused confusion about whether or not signatures collected after the original 60-day timeline can be counted.
—Riley Bunch, ajc, 14 Sep. 2023
But South Korea has been pressed by the United States, its most important ally, to help the war effort.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
On Wednesday, Heilemann pressed the group — who last played together at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2002 — on whether the enthusiastic fan response to Stop Making Sense could inspire a reunion of sorts.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2023
The temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge David Urias pressed pause on the policy, which had suspended open and concealed carry laws in Albuquerque and surrounding Bernalillo County.
—Marisa Iati, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
The county budget office has been pressed hard to finalize a budget on time after months of uncertainty surrounding payroll issues that left thousands of employees and vendors incorrectly paid or unpaid.
—Josephine Peterson, Dallas News, 13 Sep. 2023
Most warts have a hard, rough surface and are slightly raised on the skin surface, but those on the sole of the foot (plantar warts) are pressed flat by body weight.
—Parents Editors, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'press.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English presse, from Anglo-French, from presser to press
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Anglo-French presser, from Latin pressare, frequentative of premere to press; probably akin to Russian naperet' to press
Verb (2)
alteration of obsolete prest to enlist by giving pay in advance
First Known Use
Noun (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Verb (2)
1578, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of press was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing press
Dictionary Entries Near press
Cite this Entry
“Press.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
press
1 of 3 noun2
: a machine or device that uses pressure to shape, flatten, squeeze, or stamp
a cookie press
a cider press
4
a
: an act of pressing : pressure
b
: an aggressive defense in basketball
5
: the smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment
6
a
b
: a printing or publishing business
7
a
: the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news
b
: the newspapers and magazines of a country
c
: news reporters and broadcasters
press
2 of 3 verb1
: to bear down upon : push steadily against
2
: to squeeze so as to force out the juice or contents of
press apples to make cider
3
: to flatten out or smooth by bearing down upon (as with an iron)
press clothes
4
5
a
: to insist on
didn't press the issue
b
: to make a demand
pressing for higher wages
6
a
: to crowd closely
reporters pressed around the celebrity
b
: to force or push one's way
pressed deeper into the jungle
presser
noun
press
3 of 3 verb
: to force into emergency service
More from Merriam-Webster on press
Nglish: Translation of press for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of press for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about press
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