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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
A certain perception of Arsenal’s mental frailties persists, as if this is not just the same team that faltered in the final stages in 2022-23 but the same one that habitually cracked under pressure in the later years of Wenger’s tenure. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026 Oil prices had previously been under pressure due to concerns about a near-term global glut of the commodity. Reuters, 30 Jan. 2026 The best post sale paths emerge slowly, not under pressure. Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026 Shares have been under pressure since the start of the year, declining 15% year to date, amid concerns that AI will hurt the profitability of software companies. Michelle Fox, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for under pressure

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Under pressure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20pressure. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!