blood pressure

American  

noun

Physiology.

1. the pressure of the blood against the inner walls of the blood vessels, varying in different parts of the body during different phases of contraction of the heart and under different conditions of health, exertion, etc. BP

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blood pressure British  

noun

1. the pressure exerted by the blood on the inner walls of the arteries, being relative to the elasticity and diameter of the vessels and the force of the heartbeat

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blood pressure Scientific  

1. The pressure of the blood in the vessels, especially the arteries, as it circulates through the body. Blood pressure varies with the strength of the heartbeat, the volume of blood being pumped, and the elasticity of the blood vessels. Arterial blood pressure is usually measured by means of a sphygmomanometer and reported in millimeters of mercury as a fraction, with the numerator equal to the blood pressure during systole and the denominator equal to the blood pressure during diastole.

2. See more at hypertension hypotension

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blood pressure Cultural  

1. The pressure of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels, especially the arteries. It is expressed in two figures, said to be one “over” the other: the systolic pressure, which is the pressure when the left ventricle of the heart contracts to push the blood through the body; and the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure when the ventricle relaxes and fills with blood. Blood pressure is affected by the strength of the heartbeat, the volume of blood in the body, the elasticity of the blood vessels, and the age and general health of the person. (See circulatory system.)

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Etymology

Origin of blood pressure

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

She initially had insurance coverage for a GLP-1 that helped her lose 70 pounds and lower her blood pressure, but she lost coverage last year when she turned 65 and qualified for Medicare.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

We are more likely to develop the “metabolic syndrome”—a group of conditions that includes excess abdominal fat, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol.

From Barron's • Jun. 27, 2026

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, need to work out more — old man stuff.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026

The request was for retatrutide, and it stated that the patient experienced obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension—essentially high blood pressure in the lungs, which is no joke and can lead to heart failure.

From Slate • Jun. 23, 2026

She was given drugs to stop her blood from clotting and to control her blood pressure, treatment that Woodhull officials say is standard for the type of heart attack she was having.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times