shove

1 of 2

verb

ˈshəv 

shoved; shoving

transitive verb

1

: to push along

2

: to push or put in a rough, careless, or hasty manner : thrust

3

: to force by other than physical means : compel

shove a bill through the legislature

intransitive verb

1

: to move by forcing a way

bargain hunters shoving up to the counter

2

a

: to move something by exerting force

b

: leave

—usually used with off

shoved off for home

shover noun

shove

2 of 2

noun

: an act or instance of shoving : a forcible push

Synonyms of shove

Verb

• push
• drive
• thrust

Examples of shove in a Sentence

Verb

He shoved the door until it finally opened.

A large man shoved me out of the way.

She shoved her plate aside.

He shoved me into the pool.

A group of security guards shoved through the crowd.

The children were pushing and shoving to see the clowns.

Noun

He gave the door a shove, and it opened.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Sabres’ Peyton Krebs was whistled for what looked like routine pushing and shoving in the first period. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

As in two metal utensils shoved between the three-compartment sink and the kitchen wall. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Noun

This wasn't an aggressive shove or chest bump; this was a full-blown, body-launching tackle on a player standing still. —Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026

League officials gave the players a talking-to in the morning and, to back it up, Krebs got tagged with a roughing minor on what seemed like routine pushing and shove after the whistle. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English scūfan to thrust away; akin to Old High German scioban to push and probably to Lithuanian skubti to hurry

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing shove

• force/ram/shove (something) down someone's throat
• push comes to shove
• shove it
• shove off
• shove over
• shove up

Rhymes for shove

• dove
• glove
• love
• of
• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• hereinabove

Kids Definition

shove

1 of 2 verb

ˈshəv 

shoved; shoving

1

: to push with steady force

2

: to push along or away carelessly or rudely

shoved her out of the way

3

: depart sense 1

—usually used with off

time to shove off for home

shover noun

shove

2 of 2 noun

: an act or instance of shoving