jostle
2 synonyms for jostle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To bump or push against someone while moving, often in a crowd.
Synonyms
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.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To bump or push against someone while moving, often in a crowd.
“Commuters jostled each other to get onto the packed train.”
2. noun
A rough push or shove, or the general shoving of a crowd.
“There was a bit of jostle getting off the bus.”
How to use jostle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
jostle for position
jostle through the crowd
elbow and jostle
Etymology
From an older word "justle", related to "joust" — originally meaning to clash or come into contact.
Full origin of jostle →Frequently asked questions
What does “jostle” mean?
The word “jostle” means to bump or push against someone while moving, often in a crowd. In plain terms, to push and shove, literally in a crowd or figuratively when competing for something.
How do you pronounce “jostle”?
“Jostle” is pronounced JOS-uhl (/ˈd͡ʒɑ.səl/ in IPA).
How do you use “jostle” in a sentence?
Here is “jostle” used in a sentence: “Commuters jostled each other to get onto the packed train.”
What part of speech is “jostle”?
Depending on how it is used, “jostle” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “jostle” have?
“Jostle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bump or push against someone while moving, often in a crowd.
Related words
joust
justle
