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
- interpressure adjective
- nonpressure noun
- pressureless adjective
- superpressure noun
- underpressure noun
- unpressured adjective
Etymology
Origin of pressure
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun), from Latin pressūra; press 1, -ure
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.
Profit margins remained under pressure, according to Goldman Sachs analysts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
As cooking continues, that water evaporates, creating empty spaces that allow oil to be drawn in through negative pressure.
From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2026
"Crucially, we would link capital investment with reforms to social care and community services, reducing pressure on hospitals in the first place," said party leader Jane Dodds.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
The shares did get a boost on Tuesday, jumping 8%, but uncertainty about the duration of the Iran war and the chip-smuggling allegations are likely to keep the stock under pressure.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
I pick up my phone to text him there’s no pressure, but then I look up again and there he is.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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.
