squeeze
Americanverb (used with object)
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squeezes,
present (3rd person singular)
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squeezed,
past participle, past
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squeezing
present participle
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to press forcibly together; compress.
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to apply pressure to in order to extract juice, sap, or the like.
The tool is used to squeeze an orange.
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to force out, extract, or procure by pressure.
For this cocktail, first squeeze the juice from a pineapple.
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to thrust forcibly; force by pressure; cram.
I squeezed three suits into a small suitcase and now I'm afraid to unpack.
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to fit into a small or crowded space or timespan.
The doctor will try to squeeze you in between appointments.
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to enclose (another person's hand, arm, etc.) in one's hand and apply pressure as a token of affection, friendship, sympathy, or the like.
His father squeezed his hand and wished him luck.
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to give (someone) a hug.
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to threaten, intimidate, harass, or oppress (a person) in order to obtain a favor, money, or an advantageous attitude or action.
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to cause financial hardship to.
Manufacturers squeezed by high tariffs have stopped offering international shipping.
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to obtain a facsimile impression of.
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to cause to merge, as two or more lines of traffic into fewer lanes.
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Baseball.
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to enable (a runner on third base) to score on a squeeze play (often followed byin ).
He squeezed him in with a perfect bunt.
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to score (a run) in this way (often followed byin ).
The Dodgers squeezed in a run in the eighth inning.
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Bridge. to force (an opponent) to play a potentially winning card on a trick they cannot win.
verb (used without object)
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squeezes,
present (3rd person singular)
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squeezed,
past participle, past
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squeezing
present participle
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to exert a compressing force.
She took his hand and squeezed hard.
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to force one's way through some narrow or crowded place (usually followed by through, in, out, etc.).
It was so crowded we could barely squeeze through the passageway.
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to merge or come together.
noun
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squeezes
plural
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the act or fact of squeezing or the fact of being squeezed.
It'll be a bit of a squeeze to get them all in the same taxi.
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a clasping of one's hand around another's hand, arm, etc., as a token of affection, friendship, sympathy, or the like.
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a hug or close embrace.
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a troubled financial condition, especially caused by a shortage or restriction, as of credit or funds.
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a small quantity or amount of anything obtained by squeezing.
It just needs a squeeze of lemon juice.
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Slang. a sweetheart.
his main squeeze.
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a facsimile impression of an inscription or the like, obtained by pressing some plastic substance over or around it.
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Bridge. a play or circumstance whereby an opponent is forced to waste or discard a potentially winning card.
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an act of threatening, intimidating, harassing, or oppressing a person or persons to obtain a favor, money, or an advantageous attitude or action.
gangsters putting the squeeze on small businesses.
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money or a favor obtained in such a way.
verb
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to grip or press firmly, esp so as to crush or distort; compress
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to crush or press (something) so as to extract (a liquid)
to squeeze the juice from an orange
to squeeze an orange
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to apply gentle pressure to, as in affection or reassurance
he squeezed her hand
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to push or force in a confined space
to squeeze six lettuces into one box
to squeeze through a crowd
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to hug closely
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to oppress with exacting demands, such as excessive taxes
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to exert pressure on (someone) in order to extort (something): to squeeze money out of a victim by blackmail
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(intr) to yield under pressure
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to make an impression of (a coin, etc) in a soft substance
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bridge whist to lead a card that forces (opponents) to discard potentially winning cards
noun
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the act or an instance of squeezing or of being squeezed
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a hug or handclasp
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a crush of people in a confined space
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a condition of restricted credit imposed by a government to counteract price inflation
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an impression, esp of a coin, etc, made in a soft substance
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an amount extracted by squeezing
add a squeeze of lemon juice
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commerce any action taken by a trader or traders on a market that forces buyers to make purchases and prices to rise
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informal pressure brought to bear in order to extort something (esp in the phrase put the squeeze on )
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Also called: squeeze play. bridge whist a manoeuvre that forces opponents to discard potentially winning cards
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informal a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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squeezernoun
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intersqueezeverb (used with object)
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squeezableadjective
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unsqueezedadjective
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squeezinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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squeezesimple
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squeezessimple
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have squeezedperfect
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has squeezedperfect
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am squeezingprogressive
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are squeezingprogressive
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is squeezingprogressive
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have been squeezingperfect progressive
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has been squeezingperfect progressive
Past
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squeezedsimple
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had squeezedperfect
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was squeezingprogressive
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were squeezingprogressive
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had been squeezingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of squeeze
First recorded in 1590–1600; perhaps variant of obsolete squize ( Old English cwȳsan ) “to squeeze,” with initial s by false division of words in a closely joined phrase
Explanation
When you squeeze something, you put pressure on it. If you squeeze your toothpaste from the bottom up, you'll get the most out of your tube. The word squeeze has to do with force or pressure. When you squeeze something, like an orange, you are crushing it to extract juice. When you squeeze into a pair of jeans, you're forcing yourself into them. When you give someone a squeeze, you're giving them a tight hug. And when you're in a squeeze, you're in a tight spot, or a bind.
Vocabulary lists containing squeeze
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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.
See Examples For:
With inflation increasing and energy bills going up next month, many people could feel more of a squeeze on their household budgets.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
McKay climbed the back fence and tried to squeeze through an 8-by-12-inch doggie door that led to a back washroom.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
If oil prices continue to increase, consumers won’t just feel the squeeze from rising travel costs — food and gasoline prices are expected to climb as well.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Some 7-10 workers squeeze into tiny rooms, sleeping and cooking in the same cramped space while paying little more than five dollars a month each.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
Finally, she put her arm round my shoulders and gave me a squeeze.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Anderson currently ranks fifth on the list - and Fernandez himself squeezes into the top 10 for his £107m move to Chelsea from Benfica in February 2023.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
"It grips my heart and squeezes," wrote the Telegraph's Neil McCormick, external.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
That’s why grassroots short squeezes happen to companies like GameStop or AMC and not Amalgamated Widget Inc.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
In that instance, AgentSmyth says to look at the short interest to identify potential short squeezes.
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
She giggles and squeezes me tight, then runs up to take her bath.
From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Since then, residents say they have felt squeezed by housing, gas and grocery prices.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Initially, processors squeezed oil from the beans mechanically.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
The developments have squeezed both sides of the Arabian Peninsula, pushing crude oil prices to over $100 a barrel for the first time since July.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
But it is also crowded: more than 500 drone companies now chase the same military orders, and some executives expect many to be bought up or squeezed out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Hannie squeezed my hand one last time before letting go.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
The rise of AI and social video platforms is squeezing them further.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Meanwhile, rising costs for housing and transportation are squeezing middle-income families.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
“I told her this was a pattern of squeezing Jewish people out of public spaces,” said Rosenheck, who had hired private security for the canceled event.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Investors worry that higher gasoline and food costs are squeezing consumers, particularly those with lower incomes.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
“I’m your girlfriend?” she says, squeezing my face.
From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner
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.
