pressure

[ presh-er ]

/ ˈprɛʃ ər /

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See synonyms for: pressure / pressured / pressures / pressuring on Thesaurus.com

noun

the exertion of force upon a surface by an object, fluid, etc., in contact with it: the pressure of earth against a wall.

Physics. force per unit area. Symbol: PCompare stress (def. 6).

Meteorology. atmospheric pressure.

Electricity. electromotive force.

the state of being pressed or compressed.

harassment; oppression: the pressures of daily life.

a constraining or compelling force or influence: the social pressures of city life; financial pressure.

urgency, as of affairs or business: He works well under pressure.

Obsolete. that which is impressed.

verb (used with object), pres·sured, pres·sur·ing.

to force (someone) toward a particular end; influence: They pressured him into accepting the contract.

pressurize.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pressure

1350–1400; Middle English (noun) <Latin pressūra.See press¹, -ure

OTHER WORDS FROM pressure

pres·sure·less, adjectivein·ter·pres·sure, adjectivenon·pres·sure, noun, adverbsu·per·pres·sure, noun, adjective

un·der·pres·sure, nounun·pres·sured, adjective

Words nearby pressure

press stud, press the flesh, press time, presstitute, press-up, pressure, pressure altimeter, pressure altitude, pressure cabin, pressure center, pressure-cook

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

How to use pressure in a sentence

However, according to Brindis, “The pressure has not met the threat in terms of magnitude.”
What wildfires in Brazil, Siberia, and the US West have in common|Lili Pike|September 17, 2020|Vox
The pressure is on for Democrats and Republicans to find a solution before Congress breaks in October.
Why lawmakers may choose a more targeted approach for the second round of COVID stimulus|Aric Jenkins|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Here’s a building block that is currently under a lot of pressure, as channels are shifting after the pandemic.
How would an SEO agency be built today? Part 2: Current business model(s)|Sponsored Content: SEOmonitor|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Land
With pressure from the Gang Commission’s ad hoc committee headed by Genevieve Jones-Wright, Stephan went on record stating 332 names were removed from her office’s injunctions.
While We’re Rethinking Policing, It’s Time to End Gang Injunctions|Jamie Wilson|September 15, 2020|Voice of San Diego

The aforementioned Kaiser poll found that 61% of Americans are worried the FDA will rush to approve a vaccine due to political pressure.
6 questions that must be answered in the race for a vaccine|jakemeth|September 15, 2020|Fortune
Are you seeing more commercial pressure from academic presses for historians to sexy it up a bit?
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Like Sony Entertainment's The Interview, political pressure delayed the arrivale of foreign films in Korea.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The 2014 midterm elections are just months behind us, but already Flake feels the pressure of the 2016 presidential elections.
Can This Republican Bring the GOP Back to Its Senses on Immigration?|Tim Mak|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Therefore, some Democrats are under pressure to take policy actions their union allies oppose.
How Public Sector Unions Divide the Democrats|Daniel DiSalvo|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Does any of that come from being attuned to the pressure of that need to entertain?
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He held it, but it was without pressure; without recognizance of the delight with which he once grasped it.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Under the internal pressure his whiskers stood on end and his face grew red.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
With him one is at high pressure all the time, and I have gained a good many more ideas from him than I can work up in a hurry.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Mr. Brown seizes the proffered member, and gives it as hearty a pressure as the publicity of the occasion will permit.
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")
This may be done by taking the humming tone and bringing to bear upon it a strong pressure of energy.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick

British Dictionary definitions for pressure

pressure

/ (ˈprɛʃə) /

noun

the state of pressing or being pressed

the exertion of force by one body on the surface of another

a moral force that compelsto bring pressure to bear

an urgent claim or demand or series of urgent claims or demandsto work under pressure

a burdensome condition that is hard to bearthe pressure of grief

the normal force applied to a unit area of a surface, usually measured in pascals (newtons per square metre), millibars, torr, or atmospheresSymbol: p, P

short for atmospheric pressure, blood pressure

verb

(tr) to constrain or compel, as by the application of moral force

another word for pressurize

Derived forms of pressure

pressureless, adjective

Word Origin for pressure

C14: from Late Latin pressūra a pressing, from Latin premere to press

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

Scientific definitions for pressure

pressure

[ prĕsh′ər ]

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.♦ 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.

Cultural definitions for pressure

pressure

The force exerted on a given area. (See atmospheric pressure.)

notes for pressure

The most familiar measure of pressure is psi (pounds per square inch), used to rate pressure in automobile and bicycle tires.

pressure

Origin of pressure

OTHER WORDS FROM pressure

Words nearby pressure

Words related to pressure

How to use pressure in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pressure

Derived forms of pressure

Word Origin for pressure

Scientific definitions for pressure

Cultural definitions for pressure

notes for pressure