shove1 verbshove2 noun
shoveshove1 /ʃʌv/ ●○○ verb 
WORD ORIGINshove1
Origin:
Old English scufan ‘to push away’VERB TABLE
shove
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | shove |
| he, she, it | shoves | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | shoved |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have shoved |
| he, she, it | has shoved | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had shoved |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will shove |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have shoved |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am shoving |
| he, she, it | is shoving | |
| you, we, they | are shoving | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was shoving |
| you, we, they | were shoving | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been shoving |
| he, she, it | has been shoving | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been shoving |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be shoving |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been shoving |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Shove anything you don't want in that sack.
- Armed police shoved the protestors aside to make way for the president's car.
- He bundled the papers together and shoved them into a drawer.
- One of the soldiers shoved her roughly against the wall.
- Peter shoved his way through the dense crowd in search of his son.
- Robert shoved past the others and made his way to the front of the room.
- The children were all pushing and shoving each other.
- The officer removed Schultz' handcuffs and shoved him into a cell.
- The people moved forward towards the food, pushing and shoving to get there first.
- Tom shoved his suitcase under the bed.
- At the entrance he shoved hard.
- Danskin swung at him with the pistol, then shoved Converse aside in pursuit.
- He shoved a piece of paper at me.
- I got mad, because they were so greedy, and tried to shove them away from the chair.
- Not one player shoved an official into the azaleas.
- The policemen exchanged glances; then he pushing and shoving began: You first.
- XTree hopes this move will shove the company into the big league.
THESAURUS
to make something or someone move by pressing them with your hands, arms etc: · Push the door, don’t pull it.· She pushed him away and walked out.
to push someone or something in a rough or careless way: · People were shoving to get to the front of the queue.· Tom shoved his suitcase under the bed.
informal to push something quickly and carelessly into a small space: · She stuffed a few clothes into a bag and left.
to push someone or something with your finger or something sharp: · I poked the snake with a stick but it was dead.
to push someone beside you gently with your elbow to get their attention: · Toby nudged me and pointed out of the window.
to push something round or something on wheels so that it moves forward: · They rolled the logs down the hill.· The car still didn’t start so we tried to roll it off the road.
to push something with wheels, for example a bicycle or a trolley, so that it moves forward, while guiding it with your hands: · Rob wheeled his bike round the back of the house.
to move something to a particular place: · I’ve put the wine in the fridge.· Where have you put my grey shirt?
to put something somewhere carefully: · ‘It’s beautiful,’ he said, placing it back on the shelf.
to put someone or something down carefully on a flat surface: · He laid all the money on the table.· She laid the baby on his bed.
to carefully put something in a suitable position: · Position the microphone to suit your height.· Troops were positioned around the city.
to put something somewhere with a quick movement: · He slipped his arm around her waist.· Carrie quickly slipped the money into her bag.
to put something into a space or container quickly or carelessly: · Shove anything you don’t want in that sack.· I’ve ironed those shirts so don’t just shove them in a drawer.
(also bung British English) informal to put something somewhere quickly or carelessly: · I stuck the address in my pocket and I can’t find it now.· Could you bung those clothes in the washing machine?
to put something down somewhere in a careless and untidy way: · Don’t just dump all your bags in the kitchen.· People shouldn’t dump rubbish at the side of the street.
informal to quickly put something somewhere, usually for a short time: · Pop it in the microwave for a minute.
literary to put something somewhere suddenly or forcefully: · ‘Hide it,’ he said, thrusting the watch into her hand.
Longman Language Activatorto push people in order to move forward to push people, especially in a crowd, in order to move past them or in order to make them move: · Can you tell the people at the back of the queue to stop pushing!push your way through/into etc: · He pushed his way through the crowd.push past: · She pushed past me to the front of the line.
to push people in a rough and careless way with your hands, arms, or shoulders in order to move forward or past people: · The people moved forward towards the food, pushing and shoving to get there first.shove your way through/into etc: · Peter shoved his way through the dense crowd in search of his son.shove past: · Robert shoved past the others and made his way to the front of the room.
to move forward so fast and forcefully that you push someone as you pass them: barge into: · She just barged into me, without even apologizing.barge past: · A woman carrying a large basket barged past me to the front of the line.
to push hard in order to go somewhere when your way is blocked: force your way through: · He forced his way through the dense crowd.force your way into: · Police forced their way into the flat and arrested two men.
to push against one person or several people so that you knock them to one side, especially in order to reach a place or get something before they do: jostle for: · Passengers were jostling each other at the news kiosk for the last remaining copies of the evening paper.jostle to do something: · The children moved forward, jostling to get to the front and see the magician.
to push with your elbows in order to move past people: elbow your way through/into etc: · She elbowed her way through the crowd.elbow somebody aside/elbow somebody to one side: · Craig elbowed me aside roughly.· Elbowing me to one side, he took hold of the microphone.
to push in order to move forward with the rest of the crowd: press forward/round etc: · As the race started the crowd pressed forward towards the track.· The security men tried to hold back crowds of reporters pressing round the President's car.
to push something or someone to push something or someone, especially with your hands, so that they move away from you: · We pushed as hard as we could, but we couldn't get the bus to move.· Mum, William pushed me!push something/somebody to/into/from etc something: · She pushed the table into a corner of the classroom.· Pushing his plate to one side he called for the waiter.· Witnesses had seen the man push Mrs Cooper off the bridge into the canal.
to push something or someone once, so that you force them to move: · "Go away!" she said, giving him a push.· He reached out and gave the door a gentle push.
informal to push something or someone, using your hands or shoulders, in a rough or careless way: · The children were all pushing and shoving each other.shove somebody/something against/aside/under etc something: · One of the soldiers shoved her roughly against the wall.· Tom shoved his suitcase under the bed.· Armed police shoved the protestors aside to make way for the president's car.
to push something or someone suddenly and strongly to force them to move: · If the door won't open just give it a shove.· "Mind your own business!" said Graham, giving me a shove.
to push someone along roughly in order to make them move forward quickly: hustle somebody out/into etc: · Two policemen quickly appeared and hustled him out.· Martin seized her arm and hustled her away.· The two men were hustled into a police van and driven away.
to quickly push someone or something into something such as a car, a bag, or a cupboard, for example because you are in a hurry or you want to hide something: · Her friends managed to get her out of the pub and bundled her home.bundle somebody/something into something: · He had been bundled into the back of a Volkswagen by three masked men.· I collected up the dirty washing and bundled it into the washing machine.
to move someone who does not want to move or something that is difficult to move by holding on to them and pushing them roughly: manhandle somebody/something into/out/towards etc: · The soldiers were manhandling two men into the yard.· The gang manhandled the stolen trailer through a gap in the fence.
to push an object into an opening or into something soft to push a sharp object into something soft, or push something into a small space: stick something into/up/inside etc something: · They stuck pins into a map to show where the enemy's camps were.· The doctor had to stick a tube down my throat in order to examine my stomach.
to push something into a small space using a lot of strength: force something into/through/down something: · She tried to force her feet into the shoes but they were too small.· I finally managed to force the package through the small letterbox.
informal to push something quickly and carelessly into a small space: shove/stuff something into/up/down etc: · She shoved two more sweaters into her bag.· He quickly stuffed the letter down the side of the sofa.
to push something very hard or violently into something: ram something into something: · She rammed the papers into her briefcase.· Construction workers had to spend the night ramming iron girders into place to support the building.
to push something deep inside another thing, especially violently or suddenly: plunge something into something: · Plunging both hands deep into the sack she rummaged among the parcels.· Then he plunged the knife into his victim's chest.
to push something suddenly and hard into an opening or into something soft: thrust something into something: · He thrust the knife deep into the animal's chest.· Thrusting the gun back into its holster, the man grinned at the body lying on the floor.· He thrust some money into my hand and told me to drive him to the airport.
to push something with difficulty into a space that is too small: squeeze something into something: · I don't think I can squeeze any more files into this drawer.· It's no use trying to squeeze yourself into clothes that are too small for you.
to push something forcefully into a small space, so that it fits tightly and is difficult to pull out again: jam something under/into etc something: · Just hold the door open while I jam a wedge under it.· Kelly poured himself another glass of wine and jammed the cork back into the bottle.
to put something somewhere quickly or carelessly informal to push something quickly or carelessly into a space or container: shove something in/into/under etc: · Shove anything you don't want in that sack.· He bundled the papers together and shoved them into a drawer.
spoken to put something somewhere, especially quickly or carelessly: stick something on/in/over something: · I stuck the pictures in a drawer and forgot all about them.· "What should I do with these?" "Oh, just stick them anywhere."
to carelessly drop something somewhere in an untidy way, especially something heavy: · People dump rubbish in the lanes, and the council is slow to clean it up.dump something on/in/there etc: · Who dumped all these books on my desk?dump something down: · I dumped my heavy suitcase down on the doorstep.
to put something down somewhere quickly and violently because you are angry: slam something down: · She slammed the cup down, and coffee splashed all over him.slam down something: · "To hell with you," he shouted, and slammed down the phone.
to put something forcefully and suddenly into a place: thrust something in/on/under etc: · Clark thrust a paper sack across the counter and demanded money.· She thrust the bag into my hands. "Hide it," she hissed.· He nervously thrust his hands into his pockets.
informal to put something somewhere quickly for a short time: pop something in/into/under etc: · She took out a piece of chewing gum and popped it in her mouth.· Pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes.
British informal to put something somewhere quickly and without thinking carefully: bung something in/into/on etc: · Could you bung those clothes into the washing machine for me?· Just sign the card, bung it in an envelope and send it off.
especially British /plunk American to put something down somewhere noisily and carelessly: plonk something on/in/there etc: · She brought a bottle of beer and a glass and plonked them on the table in front of me.· Gamblers plunked nickels and quarters into the slot machines.plonk something down: · Are those things for me? Just plonk them down anywhere.· Gary plunked a dollar down on the counter to pay for his Coke.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Everyone was pushing and shoving to see the prince. They can take their three cents an hour raise and shove it.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Everyone was pushing and shoving to see the prince. They can take their three cents an hour raise and shove it.· But Gazzer felt himself being shoved off a cliff into unconsciousness.· Slowly, as fast as they could, the Macleans shoved off for home.· Assert yourself and tell him to shove off, or just ignore him and put the phone down.
NOUN· Hank made a vulgar sound of distaste, shoved his hands in his pockets and continued on his way.· But the boy shoved hands in his jacket and looked around him while Paul changed his shoes.· Next moment a large piece of kitchen roll had been shoved into her hand.· I shoved my hands against my ears.· I shoved a hand into a pocket and pulled out a ball and placed it on his outstretched palm.· In my haste I had shoved the wrong hand into the wrong pocket and pulled out the wrong ball!· Cheswick shoves his hand higher and glares around.
· But my brokers were complaining that I was shoving them down their throats.· They sit still as cameras are shoved down their throats.
· So Gloria had shoved it out of the way under the bed.· Tony shoved his way through the crowd.· A white giant in a black T-shirt shoves his way to the bar.· He was shoving me all the way down.· It was all full up and in the end I just sort of shoved my way in at the end beside some one.· Fights broke out between pupils trying to shove their way to the front.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► when/if push comes to shove
1[intransitive, transitive] to push someone or something in a rough or careless way, using your hands or shoulders: - But my brokers were complaining that I was shoving them down their throats.
- His teeth were even and white, and Bernice wanted to ram them down his throat.
- Jess felt like ramming it down his throat.
- The agents poured pepper sauce down their nostrils, or forced water down their throats.
- Torrents of lava would not tumble out to force fire down his throat, torch his tongue.
He shoved her towards the car. Everyone was pushing and shoving to see the prince.► see thesaurus at push2[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put something somewhere carelessly or without thinking much: Tidying the room seems to mean shoving everything under the bed! He shoved his hands into his pockets.► see thesaurus at put3[transitive] spoken used to tell someone in a very impolite way that you do not want something: They can take their three cents an hour raise and shove it. → when/if push comes to shove at push2(6)shove off phrasal verb1British English spoken used to tell someone rudely or angrily to go away: Shove off! I’m busy.2to push a boat away from the land, usually with a poleshove up/over phrasal verb British English spoken to move along on a seat to make space for someone else: Shove up, mate, there’s no room to sit down here.shove1 verbshove2 noun
shoveshove2 noun [countable] EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Both the transmission controls are heavy, and the all-disc brakes need a hefty shove despite their servo.
- But she did give him a hefty shove and he nearly fell.
- Giving her a final shove, he pushed her inside.
- Luck would give him a gentle shove in the right direction.
- Rekindled and re-leased with a shove, the chandelier began to swing again, describing a larger arc this time.
- She stood her ground and got an almighty shove from Vassily, who smiled at me apologetically as he delivered the blow.
- When the riot had subsided I received affectionate hugs powerful enough to knacker horses and friendly shoves that toppled me over.
Longman Language Activatorto push something or someone
to push something or someone, especially with your hands, so that they move away from you: · We pushed as hard as we could, but we couldn't get the bus to move.· Mum, William pushed me!push something/somebody to/into/from etc something: · She pushed the table into a corner of the classroom.· Pushing his plate to one side he called for the waiter.· Witnesses had seen the man push Mrs Cooper off the bridge into the canal.
to push something or someone once, so that you force them to move: · "Go away!" she said, giving him a push.· He reached out and gave the door a gentle push.
informal to push something or someone, using your hands or shoulders, in a rough or careless way: · The children were all pushing and shoving each other.shove somebody/something against/aside/under etc something: · One of the soldiers shoved her roughly against the wall.· Tom shoved his suitcase under the bed.· Armed police shoved the protestors aside to make way for the president's car.
to push something or someone suddenly and strongly to force them to move: · If the door won't open just give it a shove.· "Mind your own business!" said Graham, giving me a shove.
to push someone along roughly in order to make them move forward quickly: hustle somebody out/into etc: · Two policemen quickly appeared and hustled him out.· Martin seized her arm and hustled her away.· The two men were hustled into a police van and driven away.
to quickly push someone or something into something such as a car, a bag, or a cupboard, for example because you are in a hurry or you want to hide something: · Her friends managed to get her out of the pub and bundled her home.bundle somebody/something into something: · He had been bundled into the back of a Volkswagen by three masked men.· I collected up the dirty washing and bundled it into the washing machine.
to move someone who does not want to move or something that is difficult to move by holding on to them and pushing them roughly: manhandle somebody/something into/out/towards etc: · The soldiers were manhandling two men into the yard.· The gang manhandled the stolen trailer through a gap in the fence.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Give the door a good shove.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
Give the door a good shove.· Then she gauged distances and gave the drum a shove.· Luck would give him a gentle shove in the right direction.· But she did give him a hefty shove and he nearly fell.· She stopped and some one gave her a little shove onward.· I nodded to Keith and gave Thorpey a shove.· I gave her a good shove, and she sprawled into the muddy waters.· The notary gave Broussac a vigorous shove which sent my companion sprawling into the open sewer.· Rawlins gave him a shove to make room; he turned and snarled.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► when/if push comes to shove
a strong push: - But my brokers were complaining that I was shoving them down their throats.
- His teeth were even and white, and Bernice wanted to ram them down his throat.
- Jess felt like ramming it down his throat.
- The agents poured pepper sauce down their nostrils, or forced water down their throats.
- Torrents of lava would not tumble out to force fire down his throat, torch his tongue.
Give the door a good shove.