squeeze

verb

\ ˈskwēz

squeezed; squeezing

Definition of squeeze

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

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

b : to extract or emit under pressure

c : to force or thrust by compression

2a(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

squeeze

noun

Definition of squeeze (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : an act or instance of squeezing : compression

b : handclasp also : embrace

2a : 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

Other Words from squeeze Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about squeeze

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Other Words from squeeze

Verb

squeezability \ ˌskwē-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

squeezable \ ˈskwē-zə-bəl

\ adjective

squeezer noun

Examples of squeeze in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

But what if, after a series of expensive medical tests, that squeezing in your chest turns out to be a bad case of indigestion and not a heart attack? — Daniela Altimari, courant.com, "The Connecticut legislature approved a sweeping health insurance transparency measure. Here’s what it will do.," 22 June 2019 That the institutions doing the harassing were the mob and the police — a criminal syndicate on one side, law enforcement on the other, with marginalized people squeezed in between — shows just how enveloping the persecution was. — Christopher Knight, latimes.com, "Artists’ response to brutal institutional homophobia: Sequined unicorns, of course," 22 June 2019 Eight adults and Hadia’s three children squeezed in, some sitting on the coffin. — Nina Strochlic, National Geographic, "Mourning refugees risk a war zone to bury their dead at home," 20 June 2019 Grate cucumber on the medium holes of a box grater; squeeze out excess liquid with your hands and transfer to a medium bowl. — Daniel Neman, Twin Cities, "Four recipes to celebrate the in-season, in-the-moment kale," 20 June 2019 When the Padres played in March in Seattle, Stammen and Yates squeezed in a round of golf on the unforgiving course along the Puget Sound. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Padres’ door-slamming closer Kirby Yates understated, undeterred," 20 June 2019 Turn the toes out to the right and squeeze your right quad. — Stephanie Mansour, NBC News, "5 exercises that target and tone the inner thighs," 19 June 2019 So much of that responsibility will soon fall to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown—a world apart from the way a crowded Boston offense squeezed their roles last season. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "The Celtics' Loss Is NBA Free Agency's Gain," 19 June 2019 Richter said technology is driving changes in AT&T's workforce and squeezing some of its businesses. — Melissa Repko, Dallas News, "AT&T to cut nearly 2,000 jobs, telecom labor union says," 17 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Second only to a mere squeeze of fresh lemon, a trickle of extra virgin olive oil may be the simplest sauce. — Bill St. John, The Denver Post, "The art of finishing sauces for fish," 5 June 2019 Just add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to perk them up. — Melissa Clark, New York Times, "The Perfect Pie for Less-Than-Perfect Berries," 29 June 2018 The middle-class wage squeeze is affecting an unlikely group: Hollywood movie and television writers, who are threatening to fire their agents en masse over what their union calls unfair business practices. — Joe Flint, WSJ, "Labor Action, With a Hollywood Twist: Screenwriters Threaten to Fire Their Agents," 29 Mar. 2019 The time squeeze didn't hamper their quest in the end, and The New York Times hailed their accomplishments in a report that featured quotes from a few Navy officials denying the mission's true intent. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "The Hunt for the Titanic Was Actually a Hunt for Lost U.S. Nuclear Submarines," 17 Dec. 2018 In fact, the Spanish authorities have been flouting their own migration protocols because of the squeeze on their staff and infrastructure. — Raphael Minder, New York Times, "Spain’s Migrant Wave Grows, Even as Europe’s Subsides," 30 June 2018 Ironically, even as Trump is threatening China, one of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue's principal responses to the squeeze has been to pledge to increase American agricultural exports. — Ronald Brownstein, CNN, "Trade war threatens the GOP's firewall in 2018," 10 Apr. 2018 Cut tangerines in half and squeeze juice by hand (to preserve the shape of the peels) to make about 2/3 cup; discard seeds. — Elaine Johnson, Sunset, "Sticky Tangerine and Basil Chicken," 22 Jan. 2018 Finely grate zest of remaining lemon into a food processor and squeeze in 3 Tbsp juice. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Salmon with Creamy Feta Cucumbers," 29 Apr. 2019

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.