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compress

17 synonyms and 6 antonyms for compress, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To squeeze or press something into a smaller space.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

Antonyms

How to use compress

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

compress a file cold compress compress air

Etymology

From Latin compressus, past participle of comprimere, "to press together," from com- + premere ("to press").

Full origin of compress →

Frequently asked questions

What does “compress” mean?

The word “compress” means to squeeze or press something into a smaller space. In plain terms, to squeeze into less space, or a cloth pad pressed on an injury.

How do you pronounce “compress”?

“Compress” is pronounced kuhm-PREHS (/kəmˈpɹɛs/ in IPA).

How do you use “compress” in a sentence?

Here is “compress” used in a sentence: “The vacuum bag compresses the clothes to save space.”

What is another word for “compress”?

Words with a similar meaning to “compress” include astringe, compact, telescope, compactify, condense and densitize.

What is the opposite of “compress”?

The opposite of “compress” — its antonyms — are decompact, decompactify, decompress, expand and uncompress.

What part of speech is “compress”?

Depending on how it is used, “compress” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “compress” come from?

The word “compress” comes from Latin. From Latin compressus, past participle of comprimere, "to press together," from com- + premere ("to press").

Is “compress” a common word?

“Compress” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

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Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.