pushes; pushed; pushing
1
: to use force to move (someone or something) forward or away from you
Please stop pushing me.
Do you want to push the shopping cart?
Push [=press] the button to turn on the computer.
He slowly pushed the door open.
She pushed back her chair and stood up.
She pushed him aside and marched into the boss's office.
He pushed her out of the way.
He pushed me into the table.
He was pushed off the sidewalk into the street.
She pushed her wet hair back/away from her face.
The bulldozer pushed the rubble over the edge of the pit.
—often used figurativelyLarger companies are pushing [=forcing] smaller ones into bankruptcy.
Poverty pushed them to the breaking point.
He pushed aside [=put aside] his fear of rejection and asked her out on a date.
She pushed her doubts to the back of her mind. = She pushed her doubts out of her mind. [=she tried not to think about her doubts]
No matter how hard I pushed, I couldn't move the boulder.
He pushed and pulled to loosen the post from the ground.
She pushed against the door, but it wouldn't open.
2
: to go forward while using your hands, arms etc., to forcefully move people or things that are blocking you
Quit (your) pushing and shoving. Can't you see there are a lot of people ahead of you in line?
—often + throughThe paramedics pushed through the crowd.
They pushed their way to the front row.
3
a
: to force or try to force or persuade (someone) to do something
He pushed his son to play football.
He pushed them to accept his plan.
She pushed him into trying out for the team.
b
: to force (someone) to work hard at something in order to achieve success
The coach tends to push his players too hard.
Her teachers pushed her to succeed.
She was tired but she pushed herself to keep working.
c
: to do or say things that cause trouble for (someone)
He kept pushing his parents until they had no choice but to punish him.
If you push him too far, you'll regret it.
4
a
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to continue moving forward in a forceful or steady way
The explorers pushed (along) deep into the jungle.
—usually + ahead, forward, or onThe army pushed [=pressed] on in spite of the snow.
They were tired, but they kept pushing ahead.
b
: to continue to do something especially in a determined way
If we want to succeed, we have to keep pushing.
—usually + ahead, forward, or onThe city pushed [=pressed] ahead/forward with its plans to build a casino.
They pushed on with their plans.
5
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to force (someone or something) to move away from a place
The troops pushed the enemy from the city.
Settlers pushed the native people off their land.
6
: to cause (something) to be accepted, completed, etc., by making a special effort
The senators are trying to push the bill through Congress.
All of the editorial staff helped to push the project to completion.
7
: to make a strong, continuous effort to get or do something
—often + for
The workers are pushing hard for higher wages.
—often followed by to + verbTown residents are pushing to prevent the shopping mall from being built.
8
a
: to make a strong effort to sell (something)
We're pushing last year's models to make room for this year's.
b
: to try to make (something) more popular, well-known, etc., by talking about it
He went on the talk show to push [=promote] his new film.
c
: to repeat (something) in order to show that it is important
They kept pushing [=pressing] the issue.
We need to get them to do something, but we don't want to push the point too much.
9
informal
: to sell (illegal drugs)
He was arrested for pushing drugs.
10
a
: to go up to and often beyond (a limit)
His humor pushes the limits of bad taste.
She is always pushing her body's limits with new physical challenges.
b
informal
: to get close to (an age or number)
—always used as (be) pushing
She must be pushing 80. [=she must be almost 80 years old]
The game was played in front of a crowd pushing 50,000. [=a crowd of almost 50,000 people]
11
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to cause or force (something) to change in a specified way
The cost of oil has pushed gas prices higher/up. [=has raised gas prices]
Stock prices have been pushed down. [=have been lowered]
Gas prices have been pushed [=raised] to record levels.
12
sports
: to hit (a ball) toward the right from a right-handed swing or toward the left from a left-handed swing
(golf) She pushed her drive into the rough.
plural pushes
1
: an act of pushing something or someone
—usually singular
He gave me a push. [=he pushed me]
Give the door a push to open it.
The computer starts with the push of a button.
At the push of a button, you can change a color photo into a black-and-white one.
2
: a large, organized military attack
—usually singular
They're making a final push against enemy forces.
The army has launched a push toward the capital.
—often used figurativelyThe company is making a push into foreign markets. [=the company is entering foreign markets]
3
: a strong, continuous effort to get or achieve something
—usually singular
Despite a multimillion dollar marketing push, the movie flopped.
—often + forWorkers are making a determined push for higher wages.
—often followed by to + verba push to improve public schools
Cite this Entry
“Push.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/push. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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