jostle
Americanverb (used with object)
-
jostles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jostled,
past participle, past
-
jostling
present participle
-
to bump, push, shove, brush against, or elbow roughly or rudely.
-
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.
-
Slang. to pick the pocket of.
verb (used without object)
-
jostles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jostled,
past participle, past
-
jostling
present participle
-
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.
-
to exist in close contact or proximity with someone or something.
-
to compete; contend.
-
Slang. to pick pockets.
noun
verb
-
to bump or push (someone) roughly
-
to come or bring into contact
-
to force (one's way) by pushing
noun
-
the act of jostling
-
a rough bump or push
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
jostlesimple
-
jostlessimple
-
have jostledperfect
-
has jostledperfect
-
am jostlingprogressive
-
are jostlingprogressive
-
is jostlingprogressive
-
have been jostlingperfect progressive
-
has been jostlingperfect progressive
Past
-
jostledsimple
-
had jostledperfect
-
was jostlingprogressive
-
were jostlingprogressive
-
had been jostlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of jostle
First recorded in 1350–1400; variant (in Middle English, variant spelling) of justle, equivalent to just(en) “to joust” + -le; see origin at joust
Explanation
The verb jostle describes being bumped and pushed in a horde of people — or doing the bumping, like those at a concert who jostle their way to the front, and the people jostled out of their spots when the newcomers arrive. Jostle describes both what someone does, like an impatient person who jostles other people out of his way on a crowded bus or subway car, and what happens to those victims: They may have their bags and cups of hot coffee jostled out of their hands by the impatient one's pushing and shoving. When you say the word jostle remember to shove the t out of the way because it's silent: "JOSS-ul."
Vocabulary lists containing jostle
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 8
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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:
Jessica amused herself by preparing her father for the tremors of future old age: She would jostle his hand as he tried to drink his tea.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Artificial intelligence is expected to be a major topic as the world’s two biggest economies jostle for leadership in the burgeoning technology.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
The campaign comes as sportsbooks and prediction markets continue to jostle for position against one another and in the public mind.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
This year, companies will also jostle to sell space, analysts say, with roomy SUVs' new growth area targeting customers prioritising seating and comfort.
From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026
Several times in the noise and jostle he thought he heard Beans’s voice.
From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli
Oil trade is likely to be choppy Friday, as the increased flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz jostles with concerns around the terms of peace, Brooks adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Fatima jostles to get free food and clothing provided by the private Dubai-based charity Waqf al-Farah, which organised the convoy.
From BBC ● May 15, 2025
Her biggest backer remains India, which has invested in several infrastructure projects as it jostles for influence against rival China in the region.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 7, 2024
When the doorbell rings, Oliver wipes his face and jostles with Jameson to answer.
From Slate ● Apr. 29, 2023
The train rattles forward, jostles from side to side, its engine making a sound like the propeller of a plane.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Whenever he paused to sip water, students jostled to snap photos with him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Gaggles of British tourists with fur coats and spray tans jostled for seating, clutching their outerwear to their chests for space as they scouted for a table to open up.
From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026
Inside, mourners jostled to touch the coffin before prayers were held.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Every excursion includes the likelihood of being uncomfortably jostled or, worse, dropped as he’s being transferred to his seat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 15, 2026
The youngsters jostled and splashed and peeped with excitement, and gradually they paddled in the direction of their parents.
From "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown
This repeated jostling helps explain why sea ice does not simply keep accelerating and spreading in response to the wind.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
Scores of women queued at a school sheltering Nepal flood victims, jostling to receive personal-care supplies, as concerns over sanitation and menstrual hygiene mount days after the catastrophic disaster.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
Despite this demure exterior, former employees say the Sussexes and the Waleses have spent years monitoring one another from afar on social media, jostling to capture favorable headlines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
There’s some jostling over the job of backing up quarterback Justin Herbert, featuring a replay of last summer’s competition between Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
From every door, dozens of children spilled into the courtyard, yelling and jostling each other.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
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