jostle

[ jos-uhl ]

/ ˈdʒɒs əl /

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See synonyms for: jostle / jostled / jostling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), jos·tled, jos·tling.

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

to drive or force by, or as if by, pushing or shoving: The crowd jostled him into the subway.

to exist in close contact or proximity with: The three families jostle each other in the small house.

to contend with: rival gangs continually jostling each other.

to unsettle; disturb: The thought jostled her complacency.

Slang. to pick the pocket of.

verb (used without object), jos·tled, jos·tling.

to bump or brush against someone or something, as in passing or in a crowd; push or shove (often followed by with, for, or against): He jostled for position.

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

to compete; contend.

Slang. to pick pockets.

noun

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

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Sometimes jus·tle

[juhs-uhl] /ˈdʒʌs əl/ .

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

OTHER WORDS FROM jostle

jos·tle·ment, nounjostler, nounun·jos·tled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use jostle in a sentence

At first, I could only see people running, yelling and jostling.
Chicago’s Running of the Bulls|Hampton Stevens|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From the seat behind, Red Dog reaches forward to tap Willie on the shoulder, jostling Gregg awake in the process.
Stacks: Hitting the Note with the Allman Brothers Band|Grover Lewis|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, Midnight Memories is more like a bunch of aspiring singles jumbled together, jostling for attention.
Why Grown-Ups Should Give One Direction a Chance|Andrew Romano|November 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Midnight Memories is a bunch of aspiring singles jumbled together, jostling for attention.
Why Grown-Ups Should Give One Direction a Chance|Andrew Romano|November 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST

He also knows Likud politics is more about internal jostling for power than anything else.
Will Bibi Leave the Likud?|Brent E. Sasley|July 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Reaching Piccadilly, Gray stood for a time on the corner, indifferent to the jostling of passers-by.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
The school children were jostling against each other on the planks, on the opposite side of the street, laughing and shouting.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
As in a dream, she saw that her room was full of snakes, all jostling and squabbling over the bowls of milk until it was finished.
The Olive Fairy Book|Various
A woman's place is at home, in a handsome drawing-room, with every comfort about her—not jostling about in the crowd with men.
The Quiver 3/1900|Anonymous
Ruth heeded neither the jostling of office-boys, porters, or draymen, as she held out her eager hand for the letter.
Ruth Hall|Fanny Fern

British Dictionary definitions for jostle

jostle

/ (ˈdʒɒsəl) /

verb

to bump or push (someone) roughly

to come or bring into contact

to force (one's way) by pushing

noun

the act of jostling

a rough bump or push

Derived forms of jostle

jostlement, nounjostler, noun

Word Origin for jostle

C14: see joust

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

jostle

Origin of jostle

OTHER WORDS FROM jostle

Words related to jostle

How to use jostle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jostle

Derived forms of jostle

Word Origin for jostle