push-up

American  

[poosh-uhp] / ˈpʊʃˌʌp /

noun

1. an exercise in which a person, keeping a prone position with the hands palms down under the shoulders, the balls of the feet on the ground, and the back straight, pushes the body up and lets it down by an alternate straightening and bending of the arms.

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adjective

1. (of a brassiere) having padding and usually underwires in the lower part of the cups so as to raise the breasts and make them seem fuller.

2. (of a sleeve) made to be pushed up the arm, away from the wrist or elbow, so as to create a puffed or creased fullness.

push-up British  

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): press-up.  an exercise in which the body is alternately raised from and lowered to the floor by the arms only, the trunk being kept straight with the toes and hands resting on the floor

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Etymology

Origin of push-up

First recorded in 1905–10; noun use of verb phrase push up

Compare meaning

How does push-up compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• press-up vs. push-up

Example Sentences

Officials are watching closely to see if higher energy prices push up the cost of goods in particular — food, clothes, consumer electronics, appliances and so forth.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

This will prevent millions of people from purchasing SpaceX stock via their index-fund contributions, denying Musk a huge pipeline of buyers to push up the price.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

Many countries would risk falling into recession, he noted, and a drop in investment spending -- "including in energy-intensive AI" -- would likely push up unemployment.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

While their spending can fuel the local economy, it also can push up prices for everyone else.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

The wildflowers can’t push up, and when they don’t grow, the soil erodes and is carried into the streams by the rain.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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