crush
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to press or squeeze with a force that destroys or deforms.
-
to squeeze or pound into small fragments or particles, as ore, stone, etc.
-
to force out by pressing or squeezing; extract.
to crush cottonseeds in order to produce oil.
-
to rumple; wrinkle; crease.
-
to smooth or flatten by pressure.
to crush leather.
-
to hug or embrace forcibly or strongly.
He crushed her in his arms.
-
to destroy, subdue, or suppress utterly.
to crush a revolt.
-
to overwhelm with confusion, chagrin, or humiliation, as by argumentation or a slighting action or remark; squelch.
-
to oppress grievously.
-
Archaic. to finish drinking (wine, ale, etc.).
verb (used without object)
-
to become crushed.
-
to advance with crushing; press or crowd forcibly.
noun
-
the act of crushing; state of being crushed.
-
a great crowd.
a crush of shoppers.
-
Informal.
-
an intense but usually short-lived infatuation with someone.
-
the object of such an infatuation.
Who's your latest crush?
-
verb phrase
idioms
verb
-
to press, mash, or squeeze so as to injure, break, crease, etc
-
to break or grind (rock, ore, etc) into small particles
-
to put down or subdue, esp by force
to crush a rebellion
-
to extract (juice, water, etc) by pressing
to crush the juice from a lemon
-
to oppress harshly
-
to hug or clasp tightly
he crushed her to him
-
to defeat or humiliate utterly, as in argument or by a cruel remark
-
(intr) to crowd; throng
-
(intr) to become injured, broken, or distorted by pressure
noun
-
a dense crowd, esp at a social occasion
-
the act of crushing; pressure
-
a drink or pulp prepared by or as if by crushing fruit
orange crush
-
informal
-
an infatuation
she had a crush on him
-
the person with whom one is infatuated
-
noun
Related Words
See break.
Other Word Forms
- crushability noun
- crushable adjective
- crushably adverb
- crusher noun
- uncrushable adjective
- uncrushed adjective
- well-crushed adjective
Etymology
Origin of crush
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English cruschen, crusshen, from Middle French croi(s)sir, cruisir “to gnash one's teeth, make a crashing or cracking sound, crackle, rustle, smash,” Medieval Latin cruscīre “to crackle,” from Germanic; compare Gothic kriustan “to crunch, grind,” Old Swedish krusa, krosa “to crush,” krȳsta “to gnash (one's teeth),” Middle Low German krossen “to crush”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sir Keir said it had been an "honour" to work with him, thanking him for "turning our party around" in the wake of its crushing defeat in the 2019 election.
From BBC
It was the coalition's second divorce following a brief separation after they suffered a crushing general election defeat in May 2025.
From Barron's
When Lindsey Vonn tore a ligament in her knee a week ahead of the Milan Cortina Olympics, it seemed as if the story of the American’s spectacular comeback had come to a crushing end.
But he said his team will try to feed off the positive vibes from a billion-plus home supporters and not be crushed by the huge weight of expectation.
From Barron's
Justice Department officials have repeatedly sought reinforcements from other cities and government agencies, even temporarily assigning military lawyers to help deal with the crush.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
