jostle
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bump, push, shove, brush against, or elbow roughly or rudely.
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to drive or force by, or as if by, pushing or shoving.
The crowd jostled him into the subway.
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to exist in close contact or proximity with.
The three families jostle each other in the small house.
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to contend with.
rival gangs continually jostling each other.
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to unsettle; disturb.
The thought jostled her complacency.
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Slang. to pick the pocket of.
verb (used without object)
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to bump or brush against someone or something, as in passing or in a crowd; push or shove (often followed by with, for, oragainst ).
He jostled for position.
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to exist in close contact or proximity with someone or something.
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to compete; contend.
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Slang. to pick pockets.
noun
verb
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to bump or push (someone) roughly
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to come or bring into contact
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to force (one's way) by pushing
noun
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the act of jostling
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a rough bump or push
Other Word Forms
- jostlement noun
- jostler noun
- unjostled adjective
Etymology
Origin of jostle
First recorded in 1350–1400; variant (in Middle English, variant spelling) of justle, equivalent to just(en) “to joust” + -le; joust
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.
This is not the first time Singaporeans have crossed swords over how common spaces should be used in the land-scarce country, where more than 8,300 people jostle for each kilometre.
From BBC
Frightened people jostled their way on, leaving tearful goodbyes on the platform with those staying to fight.
From BBC
But Milan was still badly placed and had lost his lead-out men as the sprinters jostled for position going into the final 500 metres.
From Barron's
They jostled and shoved, spun, crowded, and exploded.
From Literature
Canada will grab and jostle the U.S., get physical and hope to throw off their mojo.
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.
