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Meaning & use

being pressured

phrase·Everyday

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UK/ˈbiːɪŋ ˈpreʃəd/
US/ˈbiːɪŋ ˈpreʃərd/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    the state of being strongly urged or forced by others to do something you may not want to do.

    Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: it often follows verbs like feel or resent, or a preposition like about.

    Patterns

    • being pressured to do something
    • being pressured by someone
    • being pressured into something

    She quit the team because she hated being pressured to win at any cost.

    He felt he was being pressured into signing the contract before he had read it.

    Being pressured by classmates made him say things he did not mean.

  2. phrasefixed phrase

    the fact of being subjected to strong persuasion or influence in a situation.

    Grammar: Often used after prepositions: under being pressured is not natural; say while being pressured or after being pressured.

    Patterns

    • after being pressured
    • while being pressured

    After being pressured for weeks, the manager finally changed the schedule.

    The report described workers being pressured to skip safety checks.

Common combinations

feel pressured
Many students feel pressured to choose a career too early.
under pressure
She is under pressure to finish the project by Friday.
pressure someone into something
They pressured him into lending them money.
peer pressure
Peer pressure can make teenagers take risks.

Synonyms and how they differ

coerced
Stronger and more formal; it suggests actual force or threats, not just social urging.
pushed
More informal and less heavy; it can describe gentle urging as well as strong pressure.

Opposites

freeunforced

Word family

pressure noun
the force or influence that makes someone act in a certain way.
pressure verb
to try to make someone do something by urging them repeatedly.
pressured adjective
feeling or showing the effects of strong demands or influence.

Commonly confused: being pressured or being pressed?

being pressured vs being pressed

Being pressed usually means being pushed physically or being in a hurry; being pressured is about social or mental influence.

Practice

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