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• push button
  push button

  noun

  a device designed to close or open an electric circuit when a button or knob is depressed, and to return to a normal position when it is released.
• push-button
  push-button

  adjective

  operated by or as if by push buttons.

push button

¹ American  

Or pushbutton

noun

• push buttons
  plural

1. a device designed to close or open an electric circuit when a button or knob is depressed, and to return to a normal position when it is released.

2. the button or knob depressed.

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push-button ² American  

[poosh-buht-n] / ˈpʊʃˌbʌt n /

adjective

1. operated by or as if by push buttons.

   push-button tuning.

2. using complex, automated weapons, as long-range missiles, that require only simple initial steps to put them into action.

   push-button warfare.

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push button British  

noun

1. an electrical switch operated by pressing a button, which closes or opens a circuit

2.  push-button.  (modifier)

   1. operated by a push button

      a push-button radio

   2. initiated as simply as by pressing a button

      push-button warfare

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• push buttons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of push button¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Origin of push-button²

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

push button push-button

The reachability enabled by digital command also produced anxiety—if anyone could gain access to a push button, how could society maintain control over the unskilled, incompetent, or evil-doing controller?

From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2022

“In ’80, there was no push button, come-rescue-me button.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 2, 2017

A large push button replaced the steering, and light sensors mounted underneath the car will allow it to follow a line of tape along the floor whenever Scarlett hits the button.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 19, 2016

When AT&T unveiled the first commercial push button phone in 1963, part of its pitch was simple: calling someone would be faster than it was on rotary phones.

From New York Times ● Mar. 11, 2011

Connect two batteries in series with a bell and push button.

From Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts by Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

They embraced push-button elevators for their speed and efficiency, not to mention as a way of avoiding rising labor costs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026

She’s holding an old push-button phone where emergency contacts are saved.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2024

The vehicle has a push-button start feature and requires a key fob to be in the vehicle before it can be operated.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 25, 2023

In particular, basic models that still used key-driven ignition instead of push-button ignition were targeted by thieves.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 25, 2023

We find adapted computers, talking boards that speak the words, push-button systems, and even devices that work with blinks or head nods.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper