jostle
[jos-uh l]
- 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.
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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, or against): He jostled for position.
- to exist in close contact or proximity with someone or something.
- to compete; contend.
- Slang. to pick pockets.
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- a shock, push, bump, or brush against someone or something.
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Also justle.
Origin of jostle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for jostling
Contemporary Examples
At first, I could only see people running, yelling and jostling.
From the seat behind, Red Dog reaches forward to tap Willie on the shoulder, jostling Gregg awake in the process.
Instead, Midnight Memories is more like a bunch of aspiring singles jumbled together, jostling for attention.
Midnight Memories is a bunch of aspiring singles jumbled together, jostling for attention.
How many do they include among their jostling, competitive peers?
Historical Examples
There was no scrambling or jostling for the hot water, no ill humour, no quarrelling.
The Uncommercial TravellerCharles Dickens
Her brain was crowded with jostling thoughts, her heart with jostling feelings and fears.
A Spirit in PrisonRobert Hichens
And yet they were fighting their way, jostling each other in order to get first to the front.
His MasterpieceEmile Zola
And it was there that Sandoz came upon him, amid the jostling.
His MasterpieceEmile Zola
There's no occasion for jostling, there's room for everyone.
L'AssommoirEmile Zola
jostle
- to bump or push (someone) roughly
- to come or bring into contact
- to force (one's way) by pushing
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- the act of jostling
- a rough bump or push
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Word Origin
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
Word Origin and History for jostling
jostle
v.
1540s, justle, "to knock against," formed from jousten (see joust) + frequentative suffix -tle. The usual spelling 17c.-18c. was justle. An earlier meaning of the word was "to have sex with" (c.1400). Meaning "to contend for the best position or place" is from 1610s. Related: Jostled; jostling. As a noun from c.1600.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper