jostle
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bump, push, shove, brush against, or elbow roughly or rudely.
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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.
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Slang. to pick the pocket of.
verb (used without object)
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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.
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to exist in close contact or proximity with someone or something.
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to compete; contend.
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Slang. to pick pockets.
noun
verb
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to bump or push (someone) roughly
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to come or bring into contact
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to force (one's way) by pushing
noun
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the act of jostling
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a rough bump or push
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have jostledperfect
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has jostledperfect 3rd person singular
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has been jostlingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been jostlingperfect progressive
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am jostlingprogressive 1st person singular
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is jostlingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are jostlingprogressive
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jostlingparticiple
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jostlessingular 3rd person
Past
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had jostledperfect
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was jostlingprogressive singular
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had been jostlingperfect progressive
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were jostlingprogressive plural
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jostledsimple
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jostledparticiple
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
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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List 4
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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.
Where in reverence heads were bowed Surges now a careless crowd; “Muddied oafs” and “flanneled fools” Jostle “Yanks” with camping stools;— Gone the things that meaning gave “With the old world to the grave.”
From A line-o'-verse or two by Taylor, Bert Leston
In life to win success, Elbow your way through, Jostle the next one, Else you will be jostled.
From Contemporary One-Act Plays by Barrie, J. M. (James Matthew)
Ibraham, Islam, Ismael, imps in ill, Jostle John, Jarovlitz, Jem, Joe, Jack, Jill; Kick kindling Kutusoff, kings’ kinsmen kill; Labor low levels loftiest, longest lines; Men march ’mid moles, ’mid mounds, ’mid murderous mines.
From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook, Vol. 3 by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham
Jostle the memories of the unclean things that hide in its shadows; ask which amongst them knows where dead Queen Yang still lies in dusty state.
From Gulliver of Mars by Arnold, Edwin Lester Linden
Even that's bereft us too: Our envious fates Jostle betwixt, and part the dear adieus Of meeting lips, clasped hands, and locked embraces.
From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 06 by Scott, Walter, Sir
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.
