blood pressure

noun

: pressure that is exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels and especially arteries and that varies with the muscular efficiency of the heart, the blood volume and viscosity, the age and health of the individual, and the state of the vascular wall

Examples of blood pressure in a Sentence

The doctor says he has high blood pressure.

These drugs help lower blood pressure.

She has a blood pressure of 120.

Recent Examples on the Web

Something about raising your blood pressure like that; there’s a dopamine quality to it. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025

Studies have suggested that melatonin may lower blood pressure. —Jennifer Lefton, Ms, Rd/n, Cnsc, Fand, Verywell Health, 6 Mar. 2025

Antihypertensives: Since fish oil may lower your blood pressure, taking the supplement with medications used to treat high blood pressure might lower your blood pressure too much and cause hypotension. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 5 Mar. 2025

For instance, Medicare could weigh physicians’ success in taking care of diabetes patients by the proportion of patients who have their blood sugars, blood pressure, and cholesterol controlled, and pass annual examinations tracking complications with their eyes and feet. —Ezekiel J. Emanuel, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for blood pressure

• refresher
• acupressure
• overpressure
• flesher
• fresher
• thresher

Kids Definition

blood pressure

noun

: pressure of the blood on the walls of blood vessels and especially arteries that varies with physical condition and age

Medical Definition

blood pressure

noun

: pressure exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels and especially arteries, usually measured on the radial artery by means of a sphygmomanometer, and expressed in millimeters of mercury either as a fraction having as numerator the maximum pressure that follows systole of the left ventricle of the heart and as denominator the minimum pressure that accompanies cardiac diastole or as a whole number representing the first value only

a blood pressure of 120/80

a blood pressure of 120

—abbreviation BP