pressure
Americannoun
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the exertion of force upon a surface by an object, fluid, etc., in contact with it.
the pressure of earth against a wall.
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Physics. force per unit area. P
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Meteorology. atmospheric pressure.
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Electricity. electromotive force.
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the state of being pressed or compressed.
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harassment; oppression.
the pressures of daily life.
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a constraining or compelling force or influence.
the social pressures of city life;
financial pressure.
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urgency, as of affairs or business.
He works well under pressure.
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Obsolete. that which is impressed.
verb (used with object)
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to force (someone) toward a particular end; influence.
They pressured him into accepting the contract.
noun
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the state of pressing or being pressed
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the exertion of force by one body on the surface of another
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a moral force that compels
to bring pressure to bear
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an urgent claim or demand or series of urgent claims or demands
to work under pressure
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a burdensome condition that is hard to bear
the pressure of grief
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p. P. the normal force applied to a unit area of a surface, usually measured in pascals (newtons per square metre), millibars, torr, or atmospheres
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short for atmospheric pressure blood pressure
verb
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(tr) to constrain or compel, as by the application of moral force
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another word for pressurize
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The force per unit area that one region of a gas, liquid, or solid exerts on another. Pressure is usually measured in Pascal units, atmospheres, or pounds per square inch.
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◆ A substance is said to have negative pressure if some other substance exerts more force per unit area on it than vice versa. Its value is simply the negative of the pressure exerted by the other substance.
Discover More
The most familiar measure of pressure is psi (pounds per square inch), used to rate pressure in automobile and bicycle tires.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonpressurenoun
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superpressurenoun
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underpressurenoun
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interpressureadjective
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pressurelessadjective
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unpressuredadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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pressuresimple
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pressuressimple
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have pressuredperfect
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has pressuredperfect
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am pressuringprogressive
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are pressuringprogressive
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is pressuringprogressive
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have been pressuringperfect progressive
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has been pressuringperfect progressive
Past
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pressuredsimple
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had pressuredperfect
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was pressuringprogressive
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were pressuringprogressive
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had been pressuringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of pressure
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun), from Latin pressūra; see press 1, -ure
Explanation
You feel pressure when something presses on you –- whether a physical force or a stressful situation. If you don't crack under the pressure of witnessing the accident, you will calmly apply pressure on the driver's wound until help arrives. The pressure of a looming deadline might cause you to finally get to work on an assignment. Pressure can also be a verb, like when your friend pressures you to go rock climbing despite your fear of heights. The rocks you would rather not climb were formed long ago by extreme heat and pressure. While climbing, your friend's blood pressure may rise right along with yours when she sees how clumsy you are.
Vocabulary lists containing pressure
Weather and Climate - Introductory
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Plate Tectonics - Middle School
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Weather and Climate - Middle School
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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.
See Examples For:
Next week, high pressure is set to build close to the south of the UK meaning rain-bearing weather fronts will stall.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
The new pressure on publications has very practical implications.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
McCraney, Geffen Playhouse’s artistic director, said forging a path forward in nonprofit theater without succumbing to commercial pressure to produce only guaranteed hits requires the delicate balance of surfing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Whatever the case, the increase in energy costs is bound to add upward pressure to inflation and possibly push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates either in July or, more likely, September.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Nurse Finnegan has a stethoscope and an electronic blood pressure thing in her hand, but she just sits down and places the back of her hand against my cheek, which feels very nurse-y and comforting.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
With global reserves running low — and fuel supply pressures beyond the Iran war — oil traders could be in jeopardy of underpricing the ongoing energy shock.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Those pressures have prompted companies to increase exports and expand overseas in recent years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
The same pressures pushing rates globally also apply to the U.S.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
The Night Time Industries Association's chief executive, Michael Kill, said the tax break could provide "meaningful relief to businesses facing sustained cost pressures".
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
With higher atmospheric pressures, liquid water would be possible.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Weber alleged that after she raised concerns about gender pay disparities, she was pressured to resign her vice provost job and was fired when she refused to do so.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
The Oregon-based company has been facing mounting competition in China from fast-growing local rivals such as Anta and Li Ning, which have chipped away at its market share in recent years and pressured sales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
"The general complaint is they felt pressured to do it as they didn't want to seem like a buzz kill and now have what looks like a bad biro drawing on them," she said.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
It alleged Google pressured phone makers using Android to pre-install its search engine and Google Chrome browser -- essentially shutting out rivals.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
The only reason why she graduated was because her mother pressured her.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
Sources familiar with the operation but not authorized to speak publicly said U.S. federal agents had been in contact with Guzmán López, and were pressuring him to surrender.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Callum Hiller, defending, said Siddiqi came from a good background and that others had also been "pressuring" him.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Hot weather sends air-conditioning demand skyrocketing, pressuring both power supplies and electricity bills.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Industry groups -- including the National Restaurant Association and Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America -- are pressuring Congress to change the law once again.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
Now my mom is pressuring me to be like her.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
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.
