verb
Uncommon
shove
shuhv
Shove (verb) means to push something or someone roughly. Example: “He shoved past the crowd to reach the exit.”
verb
1
To push something or someone roughly.
"He shoved past the crowd to reach the exit."
"Don't shove — there's room for everyone."
"Please don't shove the person in front of you on the platform."
noun
1
A rough push.
"She gave the door a shove and it swung open."
"A sudden shove from behind sent him stumbling into the puddle."
"With one hard shove, they got the stuck car moving again."
How to use shove
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo push roughly, or a rough push.
Common pairings
shove off
give it a shove
push and shove
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Word forms
- Plural
- shoves
- Third person singular
- shoves
- Past tense
- shoved, shoven
Fill the gap
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He _____ past the crowd to reach the exit.
Etymology
From Old English sċūfan, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to push".
Related words
Rhymes for shove
See all rhymes for shove →Frequently asked questions
What does “shove” mean?
The word “shove” means to push something or someone roughly. In plain terms, to push roughly, or a rough push.
How do you pronounce “shove”?
“Shove” is pronounced shuhv (/ʃʌv/ in IPA).
How do you use “shove” in a sentence?
Here is “shove” used in a sentence: “He shoved past the crowd to reach the exit.”
What part of speech is “shove”?
Depending on how it is used, “shove” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “shove” come from?
The word “shove” comes from Old English. From Old English sċūfan, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to push".
Is “shove” a common word?
“Shove” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shove” have?
“Shove” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to push something or someone roughly.
What is the difference between "shove" and "push"?
"Shove" implies pushing something or someone roughly or forcefully, while "push" is a more neutral term that can describe any degree of force, gentle or firm. "Shove" often carries a slightly aggressive or careless connotation that plain "push" lacks.
Is "shove" a formal or informal word?
"Shove" is an informal, everyday word common in casual speech and writing about a rough push. In more formal contexts it would generally be replaced with "push" or "propel."
Can "shove" be used as both a verb and a noun?
Yes, "shove" works as a verb meaning to push something or someone roughly, and as a noun meaning a rough push. For example, someone can "shove" a door open, or give the door "a shove."
