push
puush
Push (verb) means to apply force to something so it moves away from you. Example: “He pushed the heavy box across the floor to the corner.”
verb
1
To apply force to something so it moves away from you.
"He pushed the heavy box across the floor to the corner."
"She pushed the door open with her shoulder."
"Push the cart to the back of the store."
2
To keep pressuring or persuading someone toward a course of action.
"My boss keeps pushing me to take on more responsibility."
"His parents pushed him to study medicine."
"Don't push me into a decision I'm not ready for."
3
To promote or advertise something persistently.
"The shop is pushing its winter sale with banners in every window."
"Salespeople were pushing extended warranties on every customer who walked in."
"The company has been pushing its new phone in every ad break."
4
To keep striving hard toward a goal.
"I am going to push myself to finish the project before Friday."
"Keep pushing, because the finish line is just around the corner."
"The team pushed hard in the final quarter to close the gap."
noun
1
A short, forceful application of pressure; the act of pushing.
"Give the swing a gentle push and the toddler will laugh."
"With one last push, we got the stalled car moving."
"It only took one push to knock the vase over."
2
A sustained, determined effort to achieve something.
"After months of planning, the charity launched a big push to raise money for the new library."
"With one final push before the deadline, the whole team finished the report."
"The company is making a big push into the Asian market."
How to use push
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo apply force to move something away, or to keep pressing someone or something toward a goal.
Common mistake
A "push" (noun) meaning a sales drive or concerted effort is often used loosely — "a big push" — rather than a single physical shove.
Common pairings
push for change
push someone to do something
big push
push and pull
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Word forms
- Plural
- pushes
- Third person singular
- pushes
- Past tense
- pushed
- Archaic forms
- pushest, pushedst, pusheth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ the heavy box across the floor to the corner.
Etymology
From Old French pousser, from Latin pulsare ("to beat or strike"), the same root that gives us "pulse" and "pulsate."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for push
See all rhymes for push →Frequently asked questions
What does “push” mean?
The word “push” means to apply force to something so it moves away from you. In plain terms, to apply force to move something away, or to keep pressing someone or something toward a goal.
How do you pronounce “push”?
“Push” is pronounced puush (/pʊʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “push” in a sentence?
Here is “push” used in a sentence: “She pushed the door open with her shoulder.”
What part of speech is “push”?
Depending on how it is used, “push” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “push” come from?
The word “push” comes from Latin. From Old French pousser, from Latin pulsare ("to beat or strike"), the same root that gives us "pulse" and "pulsate.".
Is “push” a common word?
“Push” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “push” have?
“Push” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to apply force to something so it moves away from you.
What is the difference between push and pull?
Push and pull are opposite actions. To push is to apply force so that an object moves away from you, like closing a door or moving a trolley forward. To pull is to apply force so it moves toward you instead. The direction of the force relative to your body is what separates them.
What is an example of a push?
Everyday pushing includes shoving a shopping trolley, pressing a doorbell, closing a heavy door, or nudging a stalled car forward. Figuratively, you can push a product through marketing, push yourself to work harder, or push a deadline back. In each case, force or pressure moves something away or forward from its current position.
Can push be used figuratively?
Yes. Beyond physical force, push often means to urge or pressure — pushing someone to decide, pushing a sales target, or pushing boundaries. It can also mean promoting something aggressively, as in pushing a new brand. These figurative uses all keep the core idea of driving something forward against resistance.
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