Push Definition

po͝osh
pushed, pushes, pushing
verb
pushed, pushes, pushing
To press against a thing so as to move it.
Webster's New World
To apply pressure against (something), especially for the purpose of moving it.
Pushed the door but couldn't budge it.
American Heritage
To thrust, shove, or drive (up, down, in, out, etc.)
Webster's New World
To move in this way.
Webster's New World
To exert downward pressure on (a button or keyboard, for example); press.
American Heritage
noun
The act of pushing.
Webster's New World
The act of pressing.
With a push of the button.
American Heritage
A thing to be pushed so as to work a mechanism.
Webster's New World
A vigorous effort, campaign, etc.
Webster's New World
A provocation to action; a stimulus.
Has artistic talent but needs a push to get started.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
idiom
push paper
  • To have one's time taken up by administrative, often seemingly petty, paperwork:

    spent the afternoon pushing paper for the boss.

American Heritage
push up daisies
  • To be dead and buried:

    a cemetery of heroes pushing up daisies.

American Heritage
when
  • At a point when the situation must be confronted and dealt with:

    When push comes to shove, we'll have to move to a cheaper place.

American Heritage
push comes to shove
  • matters become serious or reach a critical point where some action or decision is required
Webster's New World
push off
  • to move a boat, etc. out into the water by pushing, as with an oar, against the bank or pier
  • to set out; depart
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Push

Noun

Singular:
push
Plural:
pushes

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Push

Origin of Push

  • Middle English pushen, poshen, posson, from Middle French pousser (Modern French pousser) from Old French poulser, from Latin pulsare, frequentative of pellere (past participle pulsus) "to beat, strike". Displaced native Middle English thrucchen (“to push") (from Old English þryccan (“to push")), Middle English scauten (“to push, thrust") (from Old Norse skota), Middle English schoven (“to push, shove") (from Old English scofian), Middle English schuven (“to shove, push") (from Old English scÅ«fan, scÄ“ofan (“to shove, push, thrust")), Middle English thuden, thudden (“to push, press, thrust") (from Old English þȳdan, þyddan (“to thrust, press, push")).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English pusshen from Old French poulser, pousser from Latin pulsāre frequentative of pellere to strike, push pel-5 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Probably French poche. See pouch.

    From Wiktionary

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