pressure

American  

[presh-er] / ˈprɛʃ ər /

noun

1. the exertion of force upon a surface by an object, fluid, etc., in contact with it.

   the pressure of earth against a wall.

2. Physics. force per unit area. P

3. Meteorology. atmospheric pressure.

4. Electricity. electromotive force.

5. the state of being pressed or compressed.

6. harassment; oppression.

   the pressures of daily life.

7. a constraining or compelling force or influence.

   the social pressures of city life;

   financial pressure.

8. urgency, as of affairs or business.

   He works well under pressure.

9. Obsolete. that which is impressed.

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verb (used with object)

pressured, pressuring

1. to force (someone) toward a particular end; influence.

   They pressured him into accepting the contract.

2. pressurize.

pressure British  

/ ˈprɛʃə /

noun

1. the state of pressing or being pressed

2. the exertion of force by one body on the surface of another

3. a moral force that compels

   to bring pressure to bear

4. an urgent claim or demand or series of urgent claims or demands

   to work under pressure

5. a burdensome condition that is hard to bear

   the pressure of grief

6.  p.   P.  the normal force applied to a unit area of a surface, usually measured in pascals (newtons per square metre), millibars, torr, or atmospheres

7. short for atmospheric pressure blood pressure

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verb

1. (tr) to constrain or compel, as by the application of moral force

2. another word for pressurize

pressure Scientific  

/ prĕsh′ər /

1. The force per unit area that one region of a gas, liquid, or solid exerts on another. Pressure is usually measured in Pascal units, atmospheres, or pounds per square inch.

2. ◆ A substance is said to have negative pressure if some other substance exerts more force per unit area on it than vice versa. Its value is simply the negative of the pressure exerted by the other substance.

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pressure Cultural  

1. The force exerted on a given area. (See atmospheric pressure.)

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Discover More

The most familiar measure of pressure is psi (pounds per square inch), used to rate pressure in automobile and bicycle tires.

Other Word Forms

• interpressure adjective
• nonpressure noun
• pressureless adjective
• superpressure noun
• underpressure noun
• unpressured adjective

Etymology

Origin of pressure

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun), from Latin pressūra; press ¹, -ure

Example Sentences

Profit margins remained under pressure, according to Goldman Sachs analysts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

It seems a section of Liverpool fans are not convinced by Arne Slot, and the Reds' poor Premier League form before the international break has put him under more pressure.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Without pressure from consumers or regulators, companies may have little motivation to switch to safer methods.

From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2026

Beneath the surface, selling pressure broadens and rallies lose conviction.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Danny hadn’t seen any arrows since they arrived at the house and suddenly felt a lot of pressure.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Related Words

• adversity
• burden
• constraint
• force
• hardship
• heat
• influence
• power
• strain
• stress
• tension
• trouble
• weight