oppress
Oppress (verb) means to control or treat a group of people unfairly and cruelly, often by force. Example: “The regime oppressed anyone who spoke out against it.”
How to use oppress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hold a group of people down unfairly through power or force, or to weigh heavily on someone emotionally.
Word forms
oppressed past tense, oppressed plural, oppress plural, oppresses plural, oppresses singular, oppress singular, oppressed singular, oppressest singular, oppressedst singular, oppresseth singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The regime _____ anyone who spoke out against it.
Etymology
From Old French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare, based on Latin opprimere, "to press against" — from ob- ("against") plus premere ("to press").
Frequently asked questions
What does “oppress” mean?
The word “oppress” means to control or treat a group of people unfairly and cruelly, often by force. In plain terms, to hold a group of people down unfairly through power or force, or to weigh heavily on someone emotionally.
How do you pronounce “oppress”?
“Oppress” is pronounced uh-PREHS (/əˈpɹɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “oppress” in a sentence?
Here is “oppress” used in a sentence: “The regime oppressed anyone who spoke out against it.”
What part of speech is “oppress”?
“Oppress” is a verb.
Where does the word “oppress” come from?
The word “oppress” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare, based on Latin opprimere, "to press against" — from ob- ("against") plus premere ("to press").
How many meanings does “oppress” have?
“Oppress” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to control or treat a group of people unfairly and cruelly, often by force.
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