Meaning of push In English

• 0 to use physical pressure or force, especially with your hands, in order to move something into a different position, usually one that is further away from you:

  • Can you help me move this table? You push and I'll pull.

  • The window sticks - you have to push hard to open it.

  • He helped me push my car off the road.

  • He pushed his plate away from him, refusing to eat any more.

  • She pushed her hair out of her eyes.

  • I tried to push the door open but it was stuck.

  • It isn't clear whether he fell off the balcony or was pushed.

  • To turn the television on, you just push (= press) this button.

  • He pushed the money into my hand (= forcefully gave me the money), saying, "Please take it."

  • We pushed the boat off from (= moved the boat forward by using pressure against) the river bank.

• 1 to move forcefully, especially in order to cause someone or something that is in your way to move, so that you can go through or past them:

  • Stop pushing - wait your turn.

  • She pushed through the crowd.

  • I'm sorry - I didn't mean to push in front of you.

  • The celebrities pushed past the waiting journalists, refusing to speak to them.

  • In the final lap of the race, he managed to push (= move strongly) ahead.

  • Weeds push (= grow strongly) up through the cracks in the concrete.

  • They pushed (= forcefully made) their way to the front.

  • The invading troops have pushed further into the north of the country.

• 2 to forcefully persuade or direct someone to do or achieve something:

  • Her parents pushed her into marrying him.

  • The school manages to push most of its students through their exams.

  • If we want an answer from them by Friday, I think we're going to have to push them for it.

  • [ + to infinitive ] We had to push them to accept our terms, but they finally agreed to the deal.

  • You'll never be successful if you don't push yourself (= work) harder.

• 3 to advertise something repeatedly in order to increase its sales:

  • They're really pushing their new car.

• 4 to sell illegal drugs:

  • He was arrested for pushing drugs to schoolchildren.

• 5 to send information over the internet without receiving a request for it first

• 6 the act of moving someone or something by pressing them with your hands or body:

  • Get on the swing and I'll give you a push.

  • I gave the door a hard push, but it still wouldn't open.

  • I can order all these goods at the push of a button (= by pushing a button).

• 7 a strong movement towards a place:

  • The army is continuing its push (= advance) towards the capital.

• 8 a determined attempt to get an advantage over other companies in business:

  • The company plans to make a big push into the European market next spring.

  • [ + to infinitive ] The hotel is making a major push to attract customers.

• 9 encouragement to make someone do something:

  • My mother had always wanted to learn how to paint - she just needed a gentle push.

• 10 a lot of advertising:

  • This film is unlikely to attract large audiences unless it gets/it is given a big push in the media.

• 11 to put a continuing force against something to cause it to move forward or away from you:

  • [ I ] We should be able to move this table if we both push together.

  • [ T ] She pushed her plate away.

  • [ M ] Rising demand tends to push prices up.

• 12 to move forcefully through a group of people or things:

  • [ I ] Stop pushing and wait your turn!

  • [ T always + adv/prep ] Rescuers pushed their way through the rubble to reach survivors.

• 13 to try to persuade someone forcefully to do or accept something:

  • She’s pushing me for an answer.

  • The administration is pushing its new trade agreement with Mexico.

  • infml This restaurant is pushing its carrot soup today (= trying to get people to order it).

• 14 a force put or pressed against something that causes it to move forward or away from you:

  • She gave her daughter a push on the swing.

• 15 an attempt to persuade someone forcefully to do or accept something:

  • [ + to infinitive ] Florida is making a major push to attract more tourists.

• 16 to press a switch or something similar:

  • When I push the 'call' button, my phone makes a strange noise.

• 17 to force someone to move away from a place:

  • Small farmers are saying they have been pushed off their land by the supermarket.

• 18 to try hard to make someone do what you want, especially when they do not really want to do it:

  • She feels the sales rep pushed her into buying the vehicle.

  • push sb for sth If we want an answer from them by Friday, I think we're going to have to push them for it.

  • push sb to do sth We had to push them to accept our terms, but they finally agreed to the deal.

• 19 to use a lot of effort and determination to achieve something:

  • You'll never be successful if you don't push yourself.

• 20 to try hard to make people buy something, especially by advertising it repeatedly:

  • We need to really push this product in the spring, ready for the summer season.

• 21 to not have much time to do something:

  • If you're pushed for time, we could meet tomorrow instead.

• 22 an effort to make something more successful, for example by advertising it a lot or giving it extra money:

  • The event is part of a major push by the hotel to attract customers.

  • get a push This film is unlikely to attract large audiences unless it gets a big push in the media.

  • give sth a push This is an economy that needs the Fed to step in and give it a push.

• 23 a determined effort to get an advantage over other companies in business:

  • make a push into sth The company plans to make a big push into the European market next spring.

• 24 to tell someone that they no longer have a job, especially because they have done something wrong:

  • I have no idea why they gave me the push.

• 25 to be told that you no longer have a job, especially because you have done something wrong:

  • Sounds like he hasn't come to terms with getting the push.