Meaning & use
to press
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Meanings
verbtransitive
to push something firmly, often with your finger or hand
Grammar: Takes an object: press the button. Can also be intransitive: press down on something.
Patterns
- press something
- press on something
- press something down
Press the button to start the machine.
She pressed her hand against the window.
He pressed down on the lid to close it.
verbtransitive
to urge or persuade someone strongly to do something
Grammar: Often used with 'for' or 'to': press someone for an answer, press someone to do something.
Patterns
- press someone for something
- press someone to do something
- press for something
The reporters pressed the politician for a comment.
They pressed him to accept the offer.
The workers are pressing for better pay.
verbtransitiveformal
to make clothes smooth using a hot iron
Grammar: Takes an object: press a shirt. This sense is more formal than 'iron'.
Patterns
- press clothes
- press a shirt
He pressed his suit before the interview.
She was pressing a tablecloth in the kitchen.
Word forms
| third person singular | presses |
|---|---|
| past tense | pressed |
| past participle | pressed |
| -ing form | pressing |
Common combinations
- press the button
- Press the button to call the elevator.
- press for an answer
- The journalist pressed for an answer from the spokesperson.
- press charges
- The victim decided to press charges against the thief.
- press on
- Despite the difficulties, they pressed on with the project.
- press release
- The company issued a press release about the new product.
Synonyms and how they differ
- push
- A more general word for moving something away from you; 'press' often implies a steady, firm force.
- urge
- Similar to 'press' in the sense of persuading, but 'urge' is often more polite or less forceful.
- iron
- The everyday word for making clothes smooth; 'press' is more formal and often used for professional ironing.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: to press or press?
to press vs press
As a noun, 'the press' means the news media. As a verb, it means to push or urge. Don't confuse the two.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The correct answer is 'She pressed him for a loan.' because 'press someone for something' is the standard pattern. The other prepositions do not fit this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to press”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.