press

21 synonyms and 1 antonym for press, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To push firmly against something, or push down on a button or surface.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

push force bid campaign pressure

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

squeeze compact jam crush insistence wardrobe pressing closet

Rare, literary or technical

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

depress compress bear down on agitate adjure beseech imperativeness insistency

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To push firmly against something, or push down on a button or surface.

“Press the button to start the machine.”

push depress compress squeeze bear down on force agitate adjure compact bid campaign beseech

2. verb

To urge someone strongly to do or agree to something.

“The reporter pressed the minister for a direct answer.”

Opposites

inhibit

3. noun

Newspapers and journalists collectively; the news media.

“The scandal drew widespread attention from the press.”

jam crush imperativeness pressure insistence wardrobe pressing insistency closet

How to use press

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

press a button press for details freedom of the press

Etymology

From Old French presser, "to press," from Latin pressare, based on premere, "to press."

Full origin of press →

Frequently asked questions

What does “press” mean?

The word “press” means to push firmly against something, or push down on a button or surface. In plain terms, to push on something firmly, to pressure someone, or (as a noun) the news media or a machine that applies force.

How do you pronounce “press”?

“Press” is pronounced prehs (/pɹɛs/ in IPA).

How do you use “press” in a sentence?

Here is “press” used in a sentence: “Press the button to start the machine.”

What part of speech is “press”?

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

Where does the word “press” come from?

The word “press” comes from Latin. From Old French presser, "to press," from Latin pressare, based on premere, "to press.".

Is “press” a common word?

“Press” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “press” have?

“Press” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to push firmly against something, or push down on a button or surface.

What is the difference between 'press' and 'push'?

Both involve applying force, but 'press' suggests firm, steady contact against a surface — pressing a button, pressing clothes flat. 'Push' suggests moving something away from you, often making it shift position — pushing a door open. You press to apply pressure in place; you push to make something move.

What is the difference between 'press' and 'squeeze'?

Pressing means pushing firmly against or down on something from one side, like pressing a key. Squeezing means applying pressure from two or more sides at once, pressing something inward — like squeezing a lemon or a hand. Squeeze compresses an object from around it; press pushes against its surface.

What is an example of pressing something?

You press a doorbell or a light switch to turn it on, press a key on a keyboard to type, and press the brake pedal to slow a car. You can also press clothes with an iron to flatten them. Each involves pushing firmly against a surface.

People also searched

force pressure campaign push BID crush jam pressing compact closet squeeze wardrobe

Nearby words

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