1
a
: the burden of physical or mental distress
b
: the constraint of circumstance : the weight of social or economic imposition
2
: the application of force to something by something else in direct contact with it : compression
3
archaic
: impression, stamp
4
a
: the action of a force against an opposing force
b
: the force or thrust exerted over a surface divided by its area
5
: the stress or urgency of matters demanding attention : exigency
people who work well under pressure
6
: the force of selection that results from one or more agents and tends to reduce a population of organisms
population pressure
predation pressure
7
: the pressure exerted in every direction by the weight of the atmosphere
8
: a sensation aroused by moderate compression of a body part or surface
pressureless
adjective
pressured; pressuring
ˈpre-sh(ə-)riŋ 
Examples of pressure in a Sentence
Noun
Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding.
the pressure of the compressed air inside the chamber
The animal's jaws can exert a pressure of more than 750 pounds per square inch.
The horse will respond to the slightest pressure of a rider's knee.
The fruit yields to gentle pressure when it's ripe.
the normal air pressure at sea level
He gave in to the social pressures to act and dress like everybody else.
She felt a constant pressure to earn more money.
Verb
his father pressured him to go out for the swim team
Recent Examples on the Web
Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
That’s adding pressure on small businesses, which power the US economy and account for most of the country’s jobs.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Over the course of the two-week criminal trial, federal prosecutors called more than 20 witnesses, including four men who told of smoking methamphetamine that Buck provided and then being pressured to allow the defendant to inject them with the drug.
—City News Service, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressure
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Noun
This time around, Iglesias feels infinitely less pressure despite the bigger venue.
—Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
That’s adding pressure on small businesses, which power the US economy and account for most of the country’s jobs.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Some lower-polling candidates of color accused party leaders of unfairly pressuring them to drop out, deepening tensions within the Democratic establishment.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Over the course of the two-week criminal trial, federal prosecutors called more than 20 witnesses, including four men who told of smoking methamphetamine that Buck provided and then being pressured to allow the defendant to inject them with the drug.
—City News Service, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressure
Cite this Entry
“Pressure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pressure. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pressure
1 of 2 noun
pres·sure
ˈpresh-ər
1
: a force or influence that cannot be avoided
social pressure
2
: the application of force to something by something else in direct contact with it
keep steady pressure on the gas pedal
3
a
: the action of a force against an opposing force
b
: the force applied over a surface divided by its area
c
: the force exerted as a result of the weight of the atmosphere
4
: the stress or burden of matters demanding attention
works well under pressure
Medical Definition
pressure
noun
pres·sure
ˈpresh-ər
1
: the burden of mental or physical distress especially from grief, illness, or adversity
2
: the application of force to something by something else in direct contact with it : compression
3
a
: the action of a force against some opposing force : a force in the nature of a thrust distributed over a surface
b
: the force or thrust exerted over a surface divided by the area of the surface
6
: a touch sensation aroused by moderate compression of the skin
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