push

1 of 3

verb

ˈpu̇sh 

pushed; pushing; pushes

transitive verb

1

a

: to press against with force in order to drive or impel

b

: to move or endeavor to move away or ahead by steady pressure without striking

2

a

: to thrust forward, downward, or outward

b

: to cause to increase : raise

push prices to record levels

c

: to try to move beyond or expand

push one's limits

d

: to hit (a ball) toward the right from a right-handed swing or toward the left from a left-handed swing compare pull

3

a

: to press or urge forward to completion

b

: to urge or press the advancement, adoption, or practice of

pushed a bill in the legislature

especially : to make aggressive efforts to sell

we're pushing ham this week

c

: to engage in the illicit sale of (narcotics)

4

: to bear hard upon so as to involve in difficulty

poverty pushed them to the breaking point

5

: to approach in age or number

grandmother must be pushing 75

intransitive verb

1

: to press against something with steady force in or as if in order to impel

2

: to press forward energetically against opposition

3

: to exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end

pushing for higher wages

push

2 of 3

noun

1

: a vigorous effort to attain an end : drive:

a

: a military assault or offensive

b

: an advance that overcomes obstacles

c

: a campaign to promote a product

2

: a time for action : emergency

3

a

: an act of pushing : shove

b(1)

: a physical force steadily applied in a direction away from the body exerting it

(2)

: a nonphysical pressure : influence, urge

c

: vigorous enterprise or energy

4

a

: an exertion of influence to promote another's interests

b

: stimulation to activity : impetus

PUSH

3 of 3

abbreviation

ˈpu̇sh 

People United to Serve Humanity

Phrases

push one's luck

: to take an increasing risk

push comes to shove

: a decisive moment comes

backed down when push came to shove

Synonyms

Verb

• drive
• propel
• shove
• thrust

Noun

• bandwagon
• blitz
• campaign
• cause
• crusade
• drive
• juggernaut
• movement

Examples of push in a Sentence

Verb

Do you want to push the shopping cart?

He slowly pushed the door open.

She pushed back her chair and stood up.

She pushed him aside and marched into the boss's office.

He pushed her out of the way.

He pushed me into the table.

He was pushed off the sidewalk into the street.

She pushed her wet hair back from her face.

The bulldozer pushed the rubble over the edge of the pit.

No matter how hard I pushed, I couldn't move the boulder.

Noun

an unprecedented push to pass stronger gun control measures

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That is a false narrative that Republicans have been pushing for years now. —Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 May 2025

House Speaker Mike Johnson must reconcile demands from conservatives pushing for deeper spending cuts with more moderates in swing districts voicing concerns about matters like the state and local tax (SALT) cap. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025

Noun

His observation underscores a growing push to rebuild mid-stream capabilities on U.S. soil. —William Jones, USA Today, 16 May 2025

For her first single after that triumph to only just sneak onto the Country Airplay ranking — and in last place — indicates a substantial and sustained promotional push behind the scenes. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English possen, pusshen, probably from Old French pousser to exert pressure, from Latin pulsare, frequentative of pellere to drive, strike — more at felt

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing push

• at a push
• bell push
• cost-push
• get the push
• give (someone) the push
• knows how to push her buttons
• push around
• push aside
• push-bike
• push broom
• push button
• push comes to shove
• push/hit/press the panic button
• push in
• push it
• push off
• push on
• push one's buttons
• push paper(s)
• push-pull
• push (something) out of one's mind
• push (something) to the back of one's mind
• push the boat out
• push the envelope
• push the right buttons
• push things
• push-up

Rhymes for push

• tush
• ambush
• rosebush
• saltbush

Kids Definition

push

1 of 2 verb

ˈpu̇sh 

1

: to press against with force in order to drive

2

: to force forward, downward, or outward

3

: to go or make go ahead

push the job to completion

4

: to press hard against so as to involve in difficulty

was pushed for time

5

: to engage in the sale of (illegal drugs)

push

2 of 2 noun

1

: a strong advance against obstacles

2

: a sudden thrust : shove

3

: a steady applying of force in a direction away from the body from which it comes