pressure cooker

noun

1
: an airtight utensil for quick cooking or preserving of foods by means of high-temperature steam under pressure
2
: a situation or environment that is fraught with emotional or social pressures
pressure-cook verb

Examples of pressure cooker in a Sentence

The new boss has turned the office into a pressure cooker.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The film will concentrate on the pressure cooker of the decision-making but also capture the scale of the landings. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024 State of play: Some couples who met during the pressure cooker of COVID and quickly got married are now separating. Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 20 Oct. 2024 Rebecca Hall plays Christine like a pressure cooker accumulating steam, dangerously close to blowing. Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024 Pioneer Woman 6-Quart Pressure Cooker From applesauce in the fall to pot roast on a cold winter night, a pressure cooker is a must for cozy cooking. Kaitlin Gates, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pressure cooker 

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pressure cooker was in 1915

Dictionary Entries Near pressure cooker

Cite this Entry

“Pressure cooker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pressure%20cooker. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pressure cooker

noun
: a utensil for cooking or preserving foods by means of steam under pressure
pressure-cook
ˌpresh-ər-ˈku̇k
verb

More from Merriam-Webster on pressure cooker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!