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pushed; pushing; pushes
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
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
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
People United to Serve Humanity
Synonyms
Example Sentences
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
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Recent Examples on the Web
Elana Berkowitz, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2023
That dynamic has many in Mexico wondering: Why push for changes that could raise doubts about the legitimacy of an election his party is favored to win?
—Natalie Kitroeff, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2023
Gilmore hit a tough turnaround jumper with 7:13 left to spark the run; Hepburn hit two free throws to push the lead to eight; hit a tough turnaround jumper for a 57-47 lead with 5:01 left; and fed Gilmore for a lay-in with 4:20 left.
—Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2023
Winter is when vines go dormant, lose their leaves and store up energy to push out a bud for the next year.
—David Schechter, Haley Rush, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2023
Past research led by Nobre showed that a cycle of warming, drying and forest shrinkage could push the Amazon to a minimum threshold of tree cover, below which the forest would irreversibly degrade into a simpler grassland habitat.
—Emma Bryce, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2023
One year after the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. escalates pressure on Russia and Ukraine’s leaders push for faster aid.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2023
Just come to a stop, hold the brake down with one foot and push the accelerator to the floor with the other.
—Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2023
The judge decided to push back the trial to May, and Tuesday's competency hearing was postponed until March 6, the date Schabusiness' trial was supposed to begin, WBAY reported.
—Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2023
Deborah Lovich, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
Credit companies are taking an increasingly dim view of the legislative push by Israel’s far-right cabinet that took office late last year.
—BostonGlobe.com, 8 Mar. 2023
Though Civica had some high-profile partners such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, insiders knew that many of the industry’s middlemen would resist the push.
—David Wainer, WSJ, 8 Mar. 2023
The Russian push for Bakhmut reflects the Kremlin’s broader struggle to achieve battlefield momentum.
—Mstylav Chernov, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2023
The push to recruit even more technology experts highlights concerns about how companies may use data and algorithms to target consumers with highly personalized offers, recommendations and information that may entrench a company’s dominance.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 6 Mar. 2023
The Russian push for Bakhmut reflects the Kremlin's broader struggle to achieve battlefield momentum.
—Mstyslav Chernov, ajc, 6 Mar. 2023
State campaign finance records show last year, Singh donated $4 million to the ballot committee Reproductive Freedom For All, which led the push to pass Proposal 3 in Michigan.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2023
Russell has missed four consecutive games after stepping on Donte DiVincenzo’s foot during an inbounds pass early in the Lakers’ win over Golden State to start the post-All-Star push.
—Staff Writer
Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2023
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Verb
Thousands of nurses recently went on strike in New York City to push for better staffing as hundreds of nursing roles remain unfilled, stretching nurses to their limits.
—Elana Berkowitz, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2023
That dynamic has many in Mexico wondering: Why push for changes that could raise doubts about the legitimacy of an election his party is favored to win?
—Natalie Kitroeff, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2023
Gilmore hit a tough turnaround jumper with 7:13 left to spark the run; Hepburn hit two free throws to push the lead to eight; hit a tough turnaround jumper for a 57-47 lead with 5:01 left; and fed Gilmore for a lay-in with 4:20 left.
—Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2023
Winter is when vines go dormant, lose their leaves and store up energy to push out a bud for the next year.
—David Schechter, Haley Rush, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2023
Past research led by Nobre showed that a cycle of warming, drying and forest shrinkage could push the Amazon to a minimum threshold of tree cover, below which the forest would irreversibly degrade into a simpler grassland habitat.
—Emma Bryce, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2023
One year after the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. escalates pressure on Russia and Ukraine’s leaders push for faster aid.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2023
Just come to a stop, hold the brake down with one foot and push the accelerator to the floor with the other.
—Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2023
The judge decided to push back the trial to May, and Tuesday's competency hearing was postponed until March 6, the date Schabusiness' trial was supposed to begin, WBAY reported.
—Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2023
Noun
The back-to-the-office push, in many cases, stems from a CEO’s personal desire to go back to 2019, before the pandemic.
—Deborah Lovich, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
Credit companies are taking an increasingly dim view of the legislative push by Israel’s far-right cabinet that took office late last year.
—BostonGlobe.com, 8 Mar. 2023
Though Civica had some high-profile partners such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, insiders knew that many of the industry’s middlemen would resist the push.
—David Wainer, WSJ, 8 Mar. 2023
The Russian push for Bakhmut reflects the Kremlin’s broader struggle to achieve battlefield momentum.
—Mstylav Chernov, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2023
The push to recruit even more technology experts highlights concerns about how companies may use data and algorithms to target consumers with highly personalized offers, recommendations and information that may entrench a company’s dominance.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 6 Mar. 2023
The Russian push for Bakhmut reflects the Kremlin's broader struggle to achieve battlefield momentum.
—Mstyslav Chernov, ajc, 6 Mar. 2023
State campaign finance records show last year, Singh donated $4 million to the ballot committee Reproductive Freedom For All, which led the push to pass Proposal 3 in Michigan.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2023
Russell has missed four consecutive games after stepping on Donte DiVincenzo’s foot during an inbounds pass early in the Lakers’ win over Golden State to start the post-All-Star push.
—Staff Writer
Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'push.' 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
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of push was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing push
Dictionary Entries Near push
Cite this Entry
“Push.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/push. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.
Kids Definition
push
1 of 2 verb1
: 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 noun1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on push
Nglish: Translation of push for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of push for Arabic Speakers
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