thrust

American  

[thruhst] / θrʌst /

verb (used with object)

• thrusts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• thrust,
  past participle,  past
• thrusting
  present participle

1. to push forcibly; shove; put or drive with force.

   He thrust his way through the crowd. She thrust a dagger into his back.

2. 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.

3. to extend; present.

   He thrust his fist in front of my face.

4. Archaic. to stab or pierce, as with a sword.

   She thrust his back with a dagger.

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verb (used without object)

• thrusts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• thrust,
  past participle,  past
• thrusting
  present participle

1. to push against something.

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

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

noun

• thrusts
  plural

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

2. a lunge or stab, as with a sword.

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

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

5. the main point, purpose, or essence.

   The thrust of his speech was an urgent appeal for votes.

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

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

8. an organized military attack; assault; offensive.

thrust British  

/ θrʌst /

verb

1. (tr) to push (someone or something) with force or sudden strength

   she thrust him away

   she thrust it into the fire

2. (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

3. to pierce; stab

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

5. (intr) to push forwards, upwards, or outwards

6. to make a stab or lunge at (a person or thing)

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noun

1. a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge

2. a force, esp one that produces motion

3. 1. a propulsive force produced by the fluid pressure or the change of momentum of the fluid in a jet engine, rocket engine, etc

   2. a similar force produced by a propeller

4. 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

5. geology

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

   2. See thrust fault

6. 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

7. force, impetus, or drive

   a man with thrust and energy

8. the essential or most forceful part

   the thrust of the argument

thrust Scientific  

/ thrŭst /

1. The force that propels an object in a given direction, especially when generated by the object itself, as by an engine or rocket.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterthrust
  noun
• prethrust
  noun
• unthrust
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• thrusts
  plural

Participles

• thrusting
  present
• thrust
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• thrust
  simple
• thrusts
  simple
• have thrust
  perfect
• has thrust
  perfect
• am thrusting
  progressive
• are thrusting
  progressive
• is thrusting
  progressive
• have been thrusting
  perfect progressive
• has been thrusting
  perfect progressive

Past

• thrust
  simple
• had thrust
  perfect
• was thrusting
  progressive
• were thrusting
  progressive
• had been thrusting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will thrust
  simple
• will have thrust
  perfect
• will be thrusting
  progressive
• will have been thrusting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of thrust

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English thrusten, thrysten (verb), from Old Norse thrȳsta “to force, press”

Explanation

To thrust is to push forward quickly and forcibly, like the way a pirate would plunge or thrust a sword into his enemy. Thrust is often used when you're talking about knives or swords or jabbing someone with something. In fact, a thrust refers to a sharp blow or stab. Violence aside, thrust can be any kind of forceful push or driving force. Aggressive street vendors thrust their wares on you and young movie stars are thrust into the limelight at an early age — which may be disconcerting, but certainly is not as frightening a knife thrust in your direction.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thrust thrusts thrusting

The situation thrust the team at NBC4 into a journalist’s nightmare — a tragedy where reporters become part of the story.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

The rapid development of AI and fears over the risks that the technology poses to humanity have been thrust into the spotlight by a series of warnings from executives and staff at AI firms.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

"The script was funny. I mean, not only funny... it was as if he had a kind of defiance about the condition thrust upon him, and that was very striking," Madden said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

Previously chair of PayPal, he was thrust into the CEO role in February to the surprise of analysts and some investors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

“They use these huge spears they make from tree trunks,” said Mike, holding up his hand as if about to thrust one.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Liam grabs Noel's hand and thrusts it into the air, they launch into the opening chords of Hello, and the crowd practically explodes with joy.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

It thrusts us midstream into the ageless, ceaseless flow of makers worldwide reckoning with life, earth and being.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

Tuason thrusts that sense one step further, framing Evy with plenty of negative space around her.

From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2026

The arrangement with Meta thrusts AMD into more direct competition with Broadcom, the world’s biggest designer of the custom chips.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 24, 2026

It’s hard to talk when you’re doing as many squat thrusts as you can in four minutes.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

At the drop of 3 p.m., the sellers stream into the auction hall, thrusting their best-looking mushrooms at the buyers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

How quickly the brain and body react after tripping — with your foot automatically thrusting forward, for example, to prevent yourself from face-planting — is what plyometrics trains for.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

"The spacecraft is in great shape, and we're on schedule to resume sustained thrusting with the solar-electric propulsion system later this fall."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

That milestone was also recently hit by Samsung Electronics and US chipmaker Micron -- with AI thrusting the three memory chip firms into a previously exclusive club of around a dozen companies, nearly all American.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

So Digger had turned to J.T., thrusting it at him.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

Related Words

• dig
• elbow
• heave
• interject
• jab
• lob
• lunge
• nudge
• plunge
• poke
• propel
• punch
• shove
• sink
• sling
• smack
• stab
• stick