squeeze

1 of 2

verb

ˈskwēz 

squeezed; squeezing

transitive verb

1

a

: to exert pressure especially on opposite sides of : compress

squeezed my arm

b

: to extract or emit under pressure

squeeze juice from an orange

c

: to force or thrust by compression

squeezed his hand into the hole

2

a(1)

: to get by extortion

… here they were, come to squeeze his land from him in his extremity.

—Pearl S. Buck

(2)

: to deprive by extortion

trying to squeeze me for more money

b

: to cause economic hardship to

farmers squeezed by higher seed prices

c

: to reduce the amount of

squeezes profits

3

: to crowd into a limited area

can squeeze another car into the lot

4

: to barely succeed at getting or doing (something)

The police squeezed a confession from her.

—often used with out

The team squeezed out a victory.

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

cushions squeezing as he sat down

2

: to exert pressure

remove the lid and squeeze

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

ˌskwē-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

squeezable

ˈskwē-zə-bəl 

adjective

squeezer noun

see also squeeze in, squeeze out

squeeze

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of squeeze

Verb

• crush
• press
• express
• extract
• mash

Noun

• squeezing
• compression
• condensing

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

Massachusetts cannabis regulators are considering a licensing freeze to address businesses that have been squeezed by falling marijuana prices. —State House News Service, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026

Prosecutors say participants in the Midas scheme squeezed nuclear company Energoatom’s contractors for bribes to complete projects, including structures to protect energy facilities from Russian airstrikes. —Reuters, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026

Noun

Namely, the creamy remoulade that also stars Duke’s, plus briny capers, savory anchovies and Worcestershire sauce, zippy mustard, and a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten things up. —Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026

Binoche plays a quite ordinary woman caught in the quite familiar squeeze of midlife. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

1601, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing squeeze

• feeling the squeeze
• main squeeze
• putting the squeeze on
• squeeze bottle
• squeeze off
• squeeze one's eyes shut
• squeeze play
• squeeze up
• suicide squeeze
• the squeeze
• tight squeeze

Rhymes for squeeze

• agrees
• appease
• bailees
• bougies
• burmese
• chemise
• chickpeas
• chinese
• cowpeas
• curies
• decrees
• degrees

Kids Definition

squeeze

1 of 2 verb

ˈskwēz 

squeezed; squeezing

1

a

: to press together from the opposite sides of : compress

squeeze wet clay into a ball

b

: to get by squeezing

squeeze juice from a lemon

c

: to force or thrust by compression : crowd

squeezed into the car

2

a

: to force (as by threats) money, goods, or services from

squeezed their tenants mercilessly

b

: to reduce the amount of

rising costs squeezed profits

3

: to gain or win by a narrow margin

squeezer noun

squeeze

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of squeezing

2

: financial pressure

put the squeeze on someone

3

slang : a romantic partner

she's my main squeeze