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
Their offense has sputtered, particularly through the air, and young quarterback Dillon Gabriel has shown flashes but remains inconsistent under pressure.
—
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025
Starmer, elected last summer, is under pressure to stop migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats from France, something that also troubled his Conservative predecessors.
—CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025
Congressional Republicans are under pressure from their base, and the vote will force them to go on record supporting or blocking their release.
—semafor.com, 14 Nov. 2025
Twelve aspiring fashion designers from across Canada compete in weekly challenges that test their creativity, technical skills, and ability to work under pressure.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for under pressure
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Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025
Starmer, elected last summer, is under pressure to stop migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats from France, something that also troubled his Conservative predecessors.
—CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025
Congressional Republicans are under pressure from their base, and the vote will force them to go on record supporting or blocking their release.
—semafor.com, 14 Nov. 2025
Twelve aspiring fashion designers from across Canada compete in weekly challenges that test their creativity, technical skills, and ability to work under pressure.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for under pressure
Cite this Entry
“Under pressure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20pressure. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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