squeeze

verb \ ˈskwēz \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Examples: squeeze in a Sentence

Definition of squeeze

squeezed; squeezing

transitive verb

1 a : to exert pressure especially on opposite sides of : compress

b : to extract or emit under pressure

c : to force or thrust by compression

2 a (1) : to get by extortion

(2) : to deprive by extortion

b : to cause economic hardship to

c : to reduce the amount of

squeezes profits

3 : to crowd into a limited area

4 : to gain or win by a narrow margin

5 : to force (another player) to discard in bridge so as to unguard a suit

6 : to score by means of a squeeze play

intransitive verb

1 : to give way before pressure

2 : to exert pressure; also : to practice extortion or oppression

3 : to force one's way

squeeze through a door

4 : to pass, win, or get by narrowly

—

squeezability

play \ˌskwē-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

squeezable

play \ˈskwē-zə-bəl\ adjective

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squeezer

noun

See squeeze defined for English-language learners

See squeeze defined for kids

Examples of squeeze in a Sentence

He lightly squeezed her hand and smiled.
Gently squeeze the fruit to see if it's ripe.
Hold it securely but don't squeeze too hard.
He squeezed the juice from the orange.

Recent Examples of squeeze from the Web

Egypt’s budget deficit is projected to be $24bn this year (8.4% of GDP), and Mr Sisi is running out of ways to squeeze extra revenue out of a mostly poor population.

— The Economist, "Egypt is optimistic about new gas discoveries in the Mediterranean," 5 July 2018
For most of the recovery, wage growth has been anemic, suggesting companies faced relatively little pressure to invest in automation or to find other ways to squeeze more production out of workers.

— tory newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Navarro stems stock sell-off by discounting trade war," 26 June 2018
For most of the recovery, wage growth has been anemic, suggesting companies faced relatively little pressure to invest in automation or to find other ways to squeeze more production out of workers.

— ben casselman, New York Times, "Robots or Job Training: Manufacturers Grapple With How to Improve Their Economic Fortunes," 25 June 2018
With 100 farmers’ markets scattered across Connecticut, though, vendors are feeling the pressure — and being squeezed out of profits.

— alison kuznitz, courant.com, "Wethersfield Farmers' Market Celebrates 10 Years As A 'Community Asset'," 23 June 2018
Uniqlo, in the same way, is hoping to squeeze value out of Federer—as beloved a tennis player as has ever existed—even after he’s done playing.

— cam wolf, GQ, "Roger Federer Reportedly Leaves Nike for Uniqlo (and Stacks of Cash)," 11 June 2018
If more profitable Alfa Romeos and Maseratis squeeze low-margin Fiat cars out of production in Italy and off the sales floor in the U.S., very few people will complain.

— mark phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Chrysler and Dodge’s days may be numbered despite surviving Friday," 1 June 2018
There's just something so satisfying about seeing every last bit of puss, oil, and dirt squeezed out of your face — which is immediately what drew me to Sephora's new in-store treatment: The Perk Hydrating Facial.

— refinery29.com, "Sephora Now Offers A Pore-Purging Facial — & It's Grossly Satisfying," 30 Apr. 2018
Gentrification compounds the problem by forcing low-income families out of neighborhoods that were previously underserved; as resources and income pour in, the children of these families are also squeezed out of their schools.

— anne branigin, The Root, "Watch: Roomful of Rich, White NYC Parents Get Big Mad at Plan to Diversify Neighborhood’s Schools," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'squeeze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of squeeze

alteration of obsolete English quease, from Middle English queysen, from Old English cwȳsan; akin to Icelandic kveisa stomach cramps

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1601

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

squeeze Synonyms

squeeze

noun

Definition of squeeze

1 a : an act or instance of squeezing : compression

b : handclasp; also : embrace

2 a : a quantity squeezed out from something

a squeeze of lemon

b : a group crowded together : crowd

3 : a profit taken by a middleman on goods or transactions

4 : a financial pressure caused by narrowing margins or by shortages

5 : a forced discard in bridge

6 : squeeze play

7 slang : a romantic partner

she's my main squeeze

See squeeze defined for English-language learners

Examples of squeeze in a Sentence

Fifty guests will be a bit of a squeeze.
It'll be a tight squeeze, but we can all fit.

Recent Examples of squeeze from the Web

But when that failed, the US reportedly put the squeeze on countries backing the resolution by making aggressive trade and military threats—a move that further stunned the assembly.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "US puts fierce squeeze on breastfeeding policy, shocking health officials," 9 July 2018
But it's believed Cordray was referring to Gov. Kasich's 2011 decision to drastically cut the state's local government fund, which has put a squeeze on counties, towns and townships across the state.

— jason williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX column: Why did Richard Cordray link some Ohio Republicans to Nazi collaborators?," 25 June 2018
If these analysts are correct, that could raise the odds of a short squeeze propelling the stock even higher in the coming days.

— steven russolillo, WSJ, "Samsonite and Short Sellers: This Isn’t Over Yet," 3 June 2018
This winter has brought a perfect storm of pressures, as the worst flu season in several years and a bad outbreak of winter vomiting bug exacerbated the effects of a long-term funding squeeze.

— jill lawless, The Seattle Times, "Winter flu, Brexit put beloved UK health service on sickbed," 28 Jan. 2018
In Minsk earlier this month, Angela Merkel of Germany and François Hollande of France put the squeeze on Putin.

— owen matthews, Newsweek, "The Kremlin's Campaign to Make Friends," 16 Feb. 2015
Fresh mint, a couple slices of shisito pepper, a pinch of salt (more on that in a minute) and a squeeze of lemon are muddled then joined by fresh watermelon juice.

— dana mcmahan, The Courier-Journal, "These summer-friendly, low-alcohol boozy bevys don't skimp on flavor," 10 July 2018
The documentary airing Sunday night on the History network gives a good, honest squeeze to the memory sponge of the Motor City and lets the emotions flow.

— julie hinds, Detroit Free Press, "'Detroit: Comeback City' documentary is personal, and that's a good thing," 1 July 2018
Press down through both heels and squeeze just the right side of your glutes to raise your hips several inches; pause at the top of the movement and squeeze your right side again, and then lower your hips back down to the starting position.

— jenny mccoy, SELF, "A Quick Equipment-Free Butt Workout From Celebrity Trainer Erin Oprea," 27 June 2018

First Known Use of squeeze

1611

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

squeeze Synonyms

Synonyms

compacting, compaction, compression, condensation, condensing, constricting, constriction, contracting, contraction, squeezing, telescoping;

Antonyms

decompression, expansion;

Near Antonyms

dilation, dispersion, dissipation, scattering;

distension (or distention), inflation, swelling;

concentration, consolidation;

simplification, streamlining;

decreasing, diminishment, lessening;

SQUEEZE Defined for English Language Learners

squeeze

verb

Definition of squeeze for English Language Learners

: to press together the parts and especially the opposite sides of (something)
: to get or remove (something) by squeezing something
: to pull back on (a gun's trigger) with your finger

squeeze

noun

Definition of squeeze for English Language Learners

: a situation in which people or things are crowded together
: an act of squeezing something
: a small amount that is gotten or removed from something (such as a piece of fruit) by squeezing it