push-pull

American  

[poosh-pool] / ˈpʊʃˈpʊl /

noun

1. Radio. a two-tube symmetrical arrangement in which the grid excitation voltages are opposite in phase.

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adjective

1. of or relating to electronic devices having components with balanced signals opposite in phase.

push-pull British  

noun

1. using two similar electronic devices, such as matched valves, made to operate 180° out of phase with each other. The outputs are combined to produce a signal that replicates the input waveform

   a push-pull amplifier

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Etymology

Origin of push-pull

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Yes, there’s plenty of push-pull in the areas around an aerial view of the body of water—painted in a dull green and looking quite like a giant pickle.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Call it genius, then, that “Oh, Hi!” plays into this stereotype while simultaneously lampooning it for a push-pull dynamic that makes for one of the funniest movies of the year.

From Salon • Jul. 25, 2025

But as Song so blisteringly demonstrated in “Past Lives,” reducing the complicated push-pull of romantic emotions to a simple storytelling device is a disservice to the heart.

From Salon • Jun. 14, 2025

If the central duo of “Hacks” find themselves in a constant push-pull of cruelty and intimacy, it’s because each character sees comedy as not just an art form but an addiction.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2025

But with really good partners, all you need is just the push-pull suggestion.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey