pressure
Americannoun
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pressures
plural
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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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pressures,
present (3rd person singular)
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pressured,
past participle, past
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pressuring
present participle
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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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Earth Science: Weather and Climate
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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:
Soaring fuel prices are putting extra pressure on efforts to get food to thousands of people in need across Devon and Cornwall, the South West's largest food redistribution charity has warned.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Falling oil prices eased pressure on Treasurys, with yields falling across the curve.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
“The pressure is on,” said Ed Al-Hussainy, portfolio manager at Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026
Research by the Lullaby Trust has highlighted the pressure some parents feel when asking people not to kiss or touch their baby.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
But the prolonged high pressure in the chamber below it had worked the bolts loose, and hydrogen gas was escaping into the reactor building.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Canadian inflation ticked higher last month as prices at the pump jumped again, though underlying price pressures look to be holding steady.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
However, supply pressures are building as seaborne shipments rise seasonally and port inventories increase from both a year and a month earlier, they add.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
"That's especially important today as we face unprecedented pressures from all sides, political, financial, and also from the rising dangers in the field," she said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
These stocks are better equipped to deal with rising cost pressures, and the higher interest rates they have brought about.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026
With searing heat, crushing pressures, noxious gases and everything suffused in an eerie, reddish glow, Venus seems less the goddess of love than the incarnation of hell.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
The Greek government said it had "never" been threatened or pressured, and the foreign ministry said it was "unnecessary" to summon Guilfoyle on the issue.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
Despite being pressured nearly 70 times in four games, the seventh-year signal-caller remains supportive of his offensive line, especially the younger players.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
He recently pressured European allies to further tap their oil reserves.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
The company has said it stands by its ratings — two former employees are suing it as they said they were pressured into inflating ratings to attract business.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026
The harder I'm pressured to use a computer, the harder I resist.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Ziaire Williams set the tone of the Lakers’ new defensive style, pressuring the ball the full length of the court and injecting energy into his teammates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
Norris had been pressuring Piastri for some laps before the Australian also began to close in on Leclerc, and Antonelli, struggling with oversteer in the early laps, picked up the pace.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
Yet many others have been locked out of prosperity, and entrenched inflation is pressuring even those with six-figure salaries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Higher diesel prices were already pressuring prices for groceries — especially perishables that are trucked to stores, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
Her family is pressuring her to leave Vincent because they are so poor.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
