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

There are two numbers in a blood pressure measurement—systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).101 For adults, a normal blood pressure reading is an SBP below 120 millimeters of mercury and a DBP below 80 millimeters of mercury. —Ashley Wong, Health, 3 Feb. 2025

In less than 30 minutes, the screenings assess key health indicators like cholesterol, glucose levels, and blood pressure, allowing users to stay informed and on top of their health, all from the comfort of their own homes. —Jennifer Pierce, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025

Black tea influences cholesterol levels and blood pressure to support heart health.15 Tea flavonoids influence blood vessels to improve blood flow, possibly reducing heart disease risk.16 Blood pressure: Research conflicts on the effects of black tea on blood pressure. —Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 31 Jan. 2025

These include medications used to treat common yeast or urinary tract infections, drugs used for migraine or weight loss, and blood pressure medications, to name a few. —Almut Winterstein, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

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