high-pressure
Americanadjective
-
having or involving a pressure above the normal.
high-pressure steam.
-
vigorous; persistent; aggressive.
high-pressure salesmanship.
verb (used with object)
adjective
-
having, using, involving, or designed to withstand a pressure above normal pressure
a high-pressure gas
a high-pressure cylinder
-
informal (of selling) persuasive in an aggressive and persistent manner
Etymology
Origin of high-pressure
First recorded in 1815–25
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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.
Jefferies cuts Nickel Industries to hold from buy, and lowers its price target by 17% to A$1.00/share, citing increasing geopolitical headwinds and higher sulfur prices reducing profit margins of its high-pressure acid leach operations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
A so-called "heat dome" of warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over western Europe is behind the high temperatures not usually seen until high summer.
From Barron's • May 25, 2026
The low-pressure system that brought scattered showers and cooler temperatures has moved into Mexico while a high-pressure system has been building up behind it, according to the National Weather Service.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
Managers normally prepare their players to be at their best in a high-pressure shootout.
From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026
Also, the probe's large, flat-panel hull is ideal for the high-pressure Venusian atmosphere.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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.
