jostle

American  

[jos-uhl] / ˈdʒɒs əl /

Sometimes justle

verb (used with object)

jostled, jostling

1. to bump, push, shove, brush against, or elbow roughly or rudely.

2. to drive or force by, or as if by, pushing or shoving.

   The crowd jostled him into the subway.

3. to exist in close contact or proximity with.

   The three families jostle each other in the small house.

4. to contend with.

   rival gangs continually jostling each other.

5. to unsettle; disturb.

   The thought jostled her complacency.

6. Slang. to pick the pocket of.

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verb (used without object)

jostled, jostling

1. 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.

2. to exist in close contact or proximity with someone or something.

3. to compete; contend.

4. Slang. to pick pockets.

noun

1. a shock, push, bump, or brush against someone or something.

jostle British  

/ ˈdʒɒsəl /

verb

1. to bump or push (someone) roughly

2. to come or bring into contact

3. to force (one's way) by pushing

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noun

1. the act of jostling

2. 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

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."

Example Sentences

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 • Mar. 7, 2026

But as companies jostle to dominate the AI race, the company faces stiff competition in adding more engineers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

This ascent cannot be extricated from a geopolitical context that has seen Europe battling for relevance while other major powers jostle for supremacy in many areas, notably AI.

From Barron's • Oct. 21, 2025

From there, officers jostle them through the prison to the holding cell, where they file in one-by-one with their heads down.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2025

“Loomis could pick Grandpa up like a rag doll, Miss Love. Not jostle his ribs or anything. Just bend over easy and lay him in the water.”

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Related Words

• hustle
• scramble
• shove