under pressure

idiom

1
: tightly pressed into a container
The contents of the bottle are under pressure.
2
: in a state of stress or anxiety because of having too much to do
They both work well under pressure.
3
: being made to feel forced to do something (as by arguments, threats, etc.)
The mayor is under pressure to resign.

Examples of under pressure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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After spending a quarter-century in journalism covering politics and foreign affairs, Oppenheim, who also wrote the Netflix miniseries Zero Day, explains he’s always been fascinated by the way institutions handle crises and respond under pressure. Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 27 Oct. 2025 The phenomenon, known as granular jamming, has long fascinated physicists who study how materials like sand and coffee grounds can switch from flowing freely to becoming rigid under pressure. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025 Competitive – for acting under pressure and driving results. Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025 Boscagli can especially put the pair under pressure, considering the 27-year-old Frenchman’s experience and Champions League pedigree with former club PSV. Andy Naylor, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for under pressure

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Cite this Entry

“Under pressure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20pressure. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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