Meaning & use
squeeze
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To press something firmly from the sides, often to hold it, shrink it or force liquid out.
Grammar: Takes an object: squeeze a lemon, squeeze her hand.
Patterns
- squeeze something
- squeeze something out of something
- squeeze something into something
She squeezed the lemon over the fish.
He squeezed his sister's hand to show he was nervous.
Squeeze the sponge until the water stops dripping.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To fit, or push, into a small space, or to find room for something in a tight schedule.
Grammar: Can take an object or not: squeeze a visit in; squeeze through the gap.
Patterns
- squeeze into something
- squeeze through something
- squeeze someone in
We squeezed into the back of the packed train.
The dentist can squeeze you in on Tuesday morning.
I just managed to squeeze through the narrow gate.
verbtransitivefigurative
To put heavy financial pressure on someone or something by reducing money, credit or supplies.
Grammar: Often passive: small shops are being squeezed by rising rents.
Patterns
- squeeze someone
- squeeze something out of someone
Rising rents are squeezing small shops out of the city center.
The landlord tried to squeeze every last dollar out of the tenants.
nouncountable
An act of pressing something firmly, such as a hug or grip.
Grammar: Countable: give a squeeze, a gentle squeeze.
Patterns
- give something a squeeze
She gave my arm a reassuring squeeze.
One squeeze of lime is all the drink needs.
nounusually singular
A tight, difficult situation in which money, time or space is limited.
Grammar: Usually singular with a: a squeeze on budgets, a tight squeeze.
Patterns
- a squeeze on something
- a squeeze for something
Higher prices have put a squeeze on household budgets.
Five of us in one small car was a tight squeeze.
The company felt a cash squeeze after the late payments.
Word forms
| third person singular | squeezes |
|---|---|
| past tense | squeezed |
| past participle | squeezed |
| -ing form | squeezing |
| plural noun | squeezes |
Common combinations
- squeeze a lemon
- Squeeze a lemon into the water for flavor.
- squeeze someone's hand
- He squeezed her hand as the plane took off.
- squeeze in
- Can you squeeze me in for a quick appointment?
- a tight squeeze
- The sofa was a tight squeeze through the doorway.
- a squeeze on
- There is a squeeze on school funding this year.
- squeeze out
- Large chains have squeezed out the local bakeries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- press
- Press is more general and does not need the sides to come together, while squeeze implies gripping from opposite directions.
- squash
- Squash suggests crushing something flat and damaging it, whereas squeeze can be gentle and leave the object whole.
- compress
- Compress is more technical and stresses making something smaller or denser, like a file or gas.
- cram
- Cram means to push too much into too little space, and it is more forceful than squeeze.
Opposites
Word family
- squeezer noun
- a tool for squeezing, such as a juice squeezer
- squeezable adjective
- soft enough to be pressed, as in a squeezable bottle
- squeezy adjective
- informal word for squeezable, often used of soft toys
- squeeze play noun
- a baseball play, or a tactic that forces someone into a corner
Commonly confused: squeeze or squash? squeeze or squish?
squeeze vs squash
To squash is to crush something flat, as in squashing a bug. To squeeze is to press or grip without necessarily flattening it.
squeeze vs squish
Squish is an informal word for pressing something soft, which makes a wet sound. It is less common than squeeze.
Practice
Tight deadlines mean we can only ___ one more meeting into tomorrow's schedule.
Choose one answer.
Squeeze in means to find a small gap for something in a busy schedule. Extend, cancel and remove point the opposite way and do not fit the idea of limited time.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “squeeze”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.