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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

“Usually older people, they don’t like the push button to start the car,” he said.

From New York Times ● Nov. 25, 2021

“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

Since Bob Slack's bachelor quarters were on the topmost floor Bob Slack's push button would be the next to the lowermost of the battery of buttons.

From The Life of the Party by James M. Preston

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

I have tried a wide variety over the years — some with cranks to raise and lower their work surfaces manually, others with motors for adjustment with push-button ease.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 28, 2023

It turns out that Millennials and Gen Z prefer authentic experiences over the hollow simulacrum of push-button plastic guitars.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2023

Mr Scott's 1980 model, given to him in 2006, was built before the days of padded steering wheels and electric windows, but it still has a working push-button radio.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2023

Von Rumpel limps through the rooms with their faded white moldings and ancient kerosene lamps and embroidered curtains and belle epoque mirrors and ships in glass bottles and push-button electrical switches, all dead.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr