thrust

[ thruhst ]

/ θrʌst /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: thrust / thrusting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), thrust, thrust·ing.

to push forcibly; shove; put or drive with force: He thrust his way through the crowd. She thrust a dagger into his back.

to put boldly forth or impose acceptance of: to thrust oneself into a conversation between others; to thrust a dollar into the waiter's hand.

to extend; present: He thrust his fist in front of my face.

Archaic. to stab or pierce, as with a sword: She thrust his back with a dagger.

verb (used without object), thrust, thrust·ing.

to push against something.

to push or force one's way, as against obstacles or through a crowd.

to make a thrust, lunge, or stab at something.

noun

an act or instance of thrusting; a forcible push or shove; lunge or stab.

a lunge or stab, as with a sword.

Mechanics. a linear reactive force exerted by a propeller, propulsive gases, etc., to propel a ship, aircraft, etc.

Geology. a compressive strain in the crust of the earth that, in its most characteristic development, produces reverse or thrust faults.

the main point, purpose, or essence: The thrust of his speech was an urgent appeal for votes.

Machinery. a pushing force or pressure exerted by a thing or a part against a contiguous one.

Architecture. the downward and outward force exerted by an arch on each side.

an organized military attack; assault; offensive.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of thrust

1125–75; Middle English thrusten, thrysten (v.) <Old Norse thrȳsta to thrust, force, press

OTHER WORDS FROM thrust

coun·ter·thrust, nounpre·thrust, noun, verb (used with object), pre·thrust, pre·thrust·ing.un·thrust, adjective

Words nearby thrust

thrummy, thrump, thrupenny bit, thruppence, thrush, thrust, thrust augmentation, thrust bearing, thruster, thrust fault, thrusting

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use thrust in a sentence

It measures 71-feet long, and its propulsion is provided by three GE -made J85-15 engines that together provide 12,000 lbs of thrust.
Here’s your first look at Boom Supersonic’s faster-than-sound XB-1 demonstrator aircraft|Darrell Etherington|October 7, 2020|TechCrunch
Both move air to create thrust for the plane, but turboprops are more efficient at lower speeds because the propeller moves more air with a smaller turbine.
Airbus Just Unveiled Three New Zero-Emission Concept Aircraft|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|September 23, 2020|Singularity Hub
The middle portion of the blade is the sweet spot, generating enough excess thrust to keep the rotor spinning against the drags of the tip and the root.
The science behind how an aircraft glides|By Peter Garrison/Flying Mag|September 3, 2020|Popular-Science
It would be more precise, however, to say that only part of each blade glides because only part of each blade has the right combination of speed and angle of attack to achieve the proper balance between thrust and drag.
The science behind how an aircraft glides|By Peter Garrison/Flying Mag|September 3, 2020|Popular-Science

It’s a large, stable kayak designed as a platform for a saltwater-grade through-hull Minn Kota GPS-enabled trolling motor with 45 pounds of thrust.
This motorized kayak can drive itself|By Nate Matthews/Outdoor Life|August 28, 2020|Popular-Science
But with the outbreak of hostilities in mid-2011, all festivities were thrust into the deep freeze.
In One Corner of Syria, Christmas Spirit Somehow Manages to Survive|Peter Schwartzstein|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The central thrust of the sequence derives from historical fact.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suddenly, a tall, curly haired white man appeared and thrust himself in the middle of the opposing forces.
Honoring The Late John Doar, A Nearly Forgotten Hero Of The Civil Rights Era|Gary May|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thrust into a world of seemingly supernatural monsters, his adventure begins.
The Walking Dead’s Luke Skywalker: Rick Grimes Is the Perfect Modern-Day Mythical Hero|Regina Lizik|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Presidents must act at least as much as they react; they must seize the initiative and thrust their enemies on the defensive.
This Really Is Obama's Moment of Truth|Jonathan Alter|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He thrust his tiny tuft of beard between his teeth—a trick he had when perplexed or thoughtful.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Great was the surprise of Alf at the honour and labour thus thrust upon him, but he did not shrink from it.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
He thrust the Cardinal's mantle into it, and stood over the smouldering cloth, till the whole was consumed to ashes.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
I only saw the glitter of a bayonet which a Mexican thrust into his shoulder, at the very moment he was helping me up.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
I turned round, thrust my purse into the lap of the nearest, and with a light heart led the lady back to the hotel.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various

British Dictionary definitions for thrust

thrust

/ (θrʌst) /

verb thrusts, thrusting or thrust

(tr) to push (someone or something) with force or sudden strengthshe thrust him away; she thrust it into the fire

(tr) to force or impose upon (someone) or into (some condition or situation)they thrust extra responsibilities upon her; she was thrust into the limelight

(tr foll by through) to pierce; stab

(intr; usually foll by through or into) to force a passage or entrance

(intr) to push forwards, upwards, or outwards

(intr foll by at) to make a stab or lunge at (a person or thing)

noun

a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge

a force, esp one that produces motion

a propulsive force produced by the fluid pressure or the change of momentum of the fluid in a jet engine, rocket engine, etc
a similar force produced by a propeller

a pressure that is exerted continuously by one part of an object, structure, etc, against another, esp the axial force by or on a shaft

geology

the compressive force in the earth's crust that produces recumbent folds and thrust or reverse faults
See thrust fault

civil engineering a force exerted in a downwards and outwards direction, as by an arch or rafter, or the horizontal force exerted by retained earth

force, impetus, or drivea man with thrust and energy

the essential or most forceful partthe thrust of the argument

Word Origin for thrust

C12: from Old Norse thrysta; related to Latin trūdere; see intrude

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012