1
a
: a crowd or crowded condition : throng
b
: a thronging or crowding forward or together
2
4
b
: an aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area
5
: the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment
out of press
6
a
b
: the act or the process of printing
c
: a printing or publishing establishment
7
a
: the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news : journalism
b
: newspapers, periodicals, and often radio and television news broadcasting
c
: news reporters, publishers, and broadcasters
d
: comment or notice in newspapers and periodicals
is getting a good press
8
: any of various pressure devices (such as one for keeping sporting gear from warping when not in use)
9
: a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then smoothly extended overhead without assist from the legs compare clean and jerk, snatch
pressed; pressing; presses
1
: to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact : squeeze
3
a
: to squeeze out the juice or contents of
b
: to squeeze with apparatus or instruments to a desired density, smoothness, or shape
press [=iron] a shirt
… the drained curds are generally pressed together into solid blocks of cheese.—
Caroline Campion
Caroline Campion5
: to move by means of pressure
6
a
: to lay stress or emphasis on
b
: to insist on or request urgently
7
: to follow through (a course of action)
8
: to clasp in affection or courtesy
9
: to make (a phonograph record) from a matrix (see matrix sense 2d)
also
: to make (another kind of disk, such as a CD) by a similar process
pressed; pressing; presses
1
: to force into service especially in an army or navy : impress
2
a
: to take by authority especially for public use : commandeer
b
: to take and force into any usually emergency service
: to impress men as soldiers or sailors
1
: impressment into service especially in a navy
2
obsolete
: a warrant for impressing recruits
Synonyms
Examples of press in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebNara Milanich, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Like many outlets that cover the White House, McClatchy is sometimes responsible for being part of the protective press pool – a group of 13 journalists responsible for being the eyes and ears of the press corps while the president travels.
—Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2024
Franklin will need to get stronger or NFL press corners will bully him and focus drops are part of the package.
38.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
With that, an undone ‘do is the ideal style to end a month-long press tour.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 26 Apr. 2024
Her framing was disingenuous, but she was rewarded with glowing coverage in the conservative press and mentioned as a potential running mate for Donald Trump.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
The actor has given us a press tour filled to the brim with sporty numbers and tennis ball hues.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
Simply fill this French press with coffee grounds and hot water to the indicated ratio lines, stir together, steep for 3-4 minutes, and drop the plunger to filter out all of the coffee grounds.
—Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
Zendaya went blonde for the Challengers press tour, and keeps dropping look after look.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Apr. 2024
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
The nation is juggling a number of pressing health challenges, including measles, cholera and plague.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
The accolade, past recipients of which have included former President Bill Clinton and President Joe Biden, acknowledges that the Bezos Earth Fund is the largest philanthropic commitment ever made to tackle pressing nature issues.
—Freya Drohan, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2024
The 49ers’ offensive choice came without the same pressing concerns that are engulfing their NFL challengers.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024
Their most pressing remaining areas of need include cornerback, interior defensive line and center.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Because these bills are often passed quickly and under the pretense of pressing needs, there is less scrutiny of the spending compared to what occurs during the regular budget process.
—Veronique De Rugy, Orange County Register, 25 Apr. 2024
Nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks were recalled Wednesday over a defect with the accelerator causing it to get stuck when pressed, increasing the risk of crash.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Local and state leaders are convening in Fort Worth this week to discuss two pressing issues within early childhood education: diversification of how pre-K is offered to families and improvement of the working conditions and credentials of early educators.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
Student journalists from The Columbia Spectator and KCRW Radio have kept campus—and the world—informed about what is happening, even as the administration has limited press access to campus.
—Nara Milanich, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Like many outlets that cover the White House, McClatchy is sometimes responsible for being part of the protective press pool – a group of 13 journalists responsible for being the eyes and ears of the press corps while the president travels.
—Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2024
Franklin will need to get stronger or NFL press corners will bully him and focus drops are part of the package.
38.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
With that, an undone ‘do is the ideal style to end a month-long press tour.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 26 Apr. 2024
Her framing was disingenuous, but she was rewarded with glowing coverage in the conservative press and mentioned as a potential running mate for Donald Trump.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
The actor has given us a press tour filled to the brim with sporty numbers and tennis ball hues.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
Simply fill this French press with coffee grounds and hot water to the indicated ratio lines, stir together, steep for 3-4 minutes, and drop the plunger to filter out all of the coffee grounds.
—Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
Zendaya went blonde for the Challengers press tour, and keeps dropping look after look.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
This was the moment when time stood still and a massive dog appeared before us, closed its eyes, and pressed its tongue against the Sphere for a taste of its glorious pixels.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
The nation is juggling a number of pressing health challenges, including measles, cholera and plague.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
The accolade, past recipients of which have included former President Bill Clinton and President Joe Biden, acknowledges that the Bezos Earth Fund is the largest philanthropic commitment ever made to tackle pressing nature issues.
—Freya Drohan, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2024
The 49ers’ offensive choice came without the same pressing concerns that are engulfing their NFL challengers.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024
Their most pressing remaining areas of need include cornerback, interior defensive line and center.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Because these bills are often passed quickly and under the pretense of pressing needs, there is less scrutiny of the spending compared to what occurs during the regular budget process.
—Veronique De Rugy, Orange County Register, 25 Apr. 2024
Nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks were recalled Wednesday over a defect with the accelerator causing it to get stuck when pressed, increasing the risk of crash.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Local and state leaders are convening in Fort Worth this week to discuss two pressing issues within early childhood education: diversification of how pre-K is offered to families and improvement of the working conditions and credentials of early educators.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'press.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near press
Cite this Entry
“Press.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
press
1 of 3 noun2
: a machine or device that uses pressure to shape, flatten, squeeze, or stamp
a cookie press
a cider press
4
a
: an act of pressing : pressure
b
: an aggressive defense in basketball
5
: the smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment
6
a
b
: a printing or publishing business
7
a
: the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news
b
: the newspapers and magazines of a country
c
: news reporters and broadcasters
press
2 of 3 verb1
: to bear down upon : push steadily against
2
: to squeeze so as to force out the juice or contents of
press apples to make cider
3
: to flatten out or smooth by bearing down upon (as with an iron)
press clothes
4
5
a
: to insist on
didn't press the issue
b
: to make a demand
pressing for higher wages
6
a
: to crowd closely
reporters pressed around the celebrity
b
: to force or push one's way
pressed deeper into the jungle
presser
noun
press
3 of 3 verb
: to force into emergency service
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