Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense squeezes, present participle squeezing, past tense, past participle squeezed
1. verb
If you squeeze something, you press it firmly, usually with your hands.
He squeezed her arm reassuringly. [VERB noun]
Dip the bread briefly in water, then squeeze it dry. [VERB noun adjective]
Synonyms: clutch, press, grip, crush More Synonyms of squeeze
Squeeze is also a noun.
I liked her way of reassuring you with a squeeze of the hand. [+ of]
2. verb
If you squeeze a liquid or a soft substance out of an object, you get the liquid or substance out by pressing the object.
Joe put the plug in the sink and squeezed some detergent over the dishes. [VERB noun preposition]
...freshly squeezed lemon juice. [VERB-ed]
3. verb
If you squeeze your eyes shut or if your eyes squeeze shut, you close them tightly, usually because you are frightened or to protect your eyes from something such as strong sunlight.
Nancy squeezed her eyes shut and prayed. [VERB noun adjective]
If you keep your eyes squeezed shut, you'll miss the show. [VERB adjective]
My eyes were squeezed shut against the light. [VERB-ed]
4. verb
If you squeeze a person or thing somewhere or if they squeeze there, they manage to get through or into a small space.
Somehow they squeezed him into the cockpit, and strapped him in. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Many break-ins are carried out by youngsters who can squeeze through tiny windows. [VERB preposition/adverb]
5. singular noun
If you say that getting a number of people into a small space is a squeeze, you mean that it is only just possible for them all to get into it.
[informal]
It was a squeeze in the car with five of them.
The lift holds six people at a squeeze.
Synonyms: crush, jam, squash, press More Synonyms of squeeze
6. verb
If you squeeze something out of someone, you persuade them to give it to you, although they may be unwilling to do this.
The investigators complained about the difficulties of squeezing information outof residents. [V n + from/out of]
The company intends to squeeze further savings from its suppliers. [V n from/out of]
Synonyms: pressurize, lean on [informal], bring pressure to bear on, milk More Synonyms of squeeze
7. verb
If a government squeezes the economy, they put strict controls on people's ability to borrow money or on their own departments' freedom to spend money, in order to control the country's rate of inflation.
The government will squeeze the economy into a severe recession to force inflationdown. [VERB noun]
Defense experts say joint projects are increasingly squeezed by budget pressures. [VERB noun]
Squeeze is also a noun.
The CBI also says the squeeze is slowing down inflation.
8. countable noun
Someone's squeeze is their boyfriend or girlfriend.
[informal, journalism]
Jack showed off his latest squeeze at the weekend.
Phrasal verbs:
See squeeze off
See squeeze out
More Synonyms of squeeze
squeeze in British English
(skwiːz)
verb(mainly tr)
1.
to grip or press firmly, esp so as to crush or distort; compress
2.
to crush or press (something) so as to extract (a liquid)
to squeeze the juice from an orange
to squeeze an orange
3.
to apply gentle pressure to, as in affection or reassurance
he squeezed her hand
4.
to push or force in a confined space
to squeeze six lettuces into one box
to squeeze through a crowd
5.
to hug closely
6.
to oppress with exacting demands, such as excessive taxes
7.
to exert pressure on (someone) in order to extort (something): to squeeze money out of a victim by blackmail
8. (intransitive)
to yield under pressure
9.
to make an impression of (a coin, etc) in a soft substance
10. bridge, whist
to lead a card that forces (opponents) to discard potentially winning cards
noun
11.
the act or an instance of squeezing or of being squeezed
12.
a hug or handclasp
13.
a crush of people in a confined space
14. mainly British
a condition of restricted credit imposed by a government to counteract price inflation
15.
an impression, esp of a coin, etc, made in a soft substance
16.
an amount extracted by squeezing
add a squeeze of lemon juice
17. business
any action taken by a trader or traders on a market that forces buyers to make purchases and prices to rise
18. informal
pressure brought to bear in order to extort something (esp in the phrase put the squeeze on)
19. Also called: squeeze play bridge, whist
a manoeuvre that forces opponents to discard potentially winning cards
20. informal
a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship
Derived forms
squeezable (ˈsqueezable)
adjective
squeezability (ˌsqueezaˈbility)
noun
squeezer (ˈsqueezer)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Middle English queysen to press, from Old English cwӯsan
squeeze in American English
(skwiz)
verb transitiveWord forms: squeezed or ˈsqueezing
1.
to press hard or closely; exert pressure on, esp. from two or more sides; compress
2.
a.
to press in order to extract liquid, juice, etc.
to squeeze oranges
b.
to get, bring forth, or extract by pressure
to squeeze water from a sponge
3.
to force (into, out, through, etc.) by or as by pressing
4.
to get, extract, or extort by force or unfair means
5.
to oppress with exactions, burdensome taxes, etc.
6.
to put pressure or bring influence to bear upon (someone) to do a certain thing, as to pay money, etc.
7.
to embrace closely; hug
8. US, Baseball
to score (a run) or cause (a runner) to score by a squeeze play
9. US, Bridge
to force (an opponent) to discard a potentially winning card
verb intransitive
10.
to yield or give way to pressure
a wet sponge squeezes easily
11.
to exert pressure
12.
to force one's way by pushing or pressing (in, out, through, etc.)
noun
13.
a squeezing or being squeezed; hard or close pressure
14.
a.
a close embrace; hug
b.
a firm pressing or grasping of another's hand in one's own
15.
the state of being closely pressed or packed; crush
16.
a period or situation marked by scarcity, hardship, insecurity, etc.
17.
a facsimile impression made by pressing a soft substance onto something, as a coin or inscription
18.
a quantity of something extracted by squeezing
19. Informal
pressure or influence brought to bear, as in extortion
: used esp. in the phrase ; US put the squeeze on
20. US
squeeze play
21. Slang
a sweetheart or lover
used esp. in the expression main squeeze
Idioms:
squeeze through
Derived forms
squeezable (ˈsqueezable)
adjective
squeezer (ˈsqueezer)
noun
Word origin
intens. of ME queisen < OE cwysan, to squeeze, dash against, bruise, akin to Goth quistjan, to destroy < IE base *gweye-, to overpower > Sans jināti, (he) conquers
Examples of 'squeeze' in a sentence
squeeze
You can just squeeze by between diners and the wall.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Will the new people squeeze you out?
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
The bad guys are feeling the squeeze.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Using flawed valuation methods to squeeze more money out of borrowers is not going to help.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
That causes congestion and frustration as cars squeeze past in a single lane.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Squeeze chest and press arms out in front of you.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The squeeze pinched tightest those least able to pay.
Adam Sisman The Friendship: Wordsworth and Coleridge (2006)
The spiral holds me tightly and squeezes my hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She also claims he squeezed them so hard it hurt.
The Sun (2015)
Taste and add a squeeze of lemon juice if needed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Freshly squeezed orange juice really does taste better.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So much for squeezing the economy dry.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
People are getting squeezed and they are spending less.
The Sun (2012)
Many squeezes just happen if you play out your winners.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Services companies were concerned about inflation and the squeeze on household income.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The beer duty escalator is putting the squeeze on one of our basic pleasures.
The Sun (2013)
The conference has become a bit of a squeeze this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Squeeze out liquid and place in small buttered gratin dish.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The narrow bridge takes two cars at a squeeze.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The credit squeeze affects advertising and advertising affects me.
Shawn Levy READY, STEADY, GO!: Swinging London and the Invention of Cool (2002)
Her tiny frame enabled her to squeeze into small spaces in the aircraft that other workers could not reach.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Making money is old hat and investors wishing to balance a profit with sporting success will be gradually squeezed out.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Is the pressure squeezing the bladder?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Having sensibly cracked down on smoking, the government is now squeezing the drinker.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Aggreko's was good enough to squeeze all those bears betting against its share price.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
squeeze
British English: squeeze /skwiːz/ VERB
If you squeeze something, you press it firmly, usually with your hands.
He squeezed her arm reassuringly.
American English: squeeze
Arabic: يَعْصِرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: espremer
Chinese: 压榨
Croatian: stisnuti
Czech: mačkat pevně rukama
Danish: presse
Dutch: knijpen
European Spanish: exprimir
Finnish: rutistaa
French: comprimer
German: zusammendrücken
Greek: στίβω
Italian: spremere
Japanese: 強く押す
Korean: 꽉 잡다
Norwegian: klemme
Polish: ścisnąć
European Portuguese: espremer
Romanian: a strânge
Russian: сжимать
Latin American Spanish: exprimir
Swedish: klämma
Thai: บีบ
Turkish: sıkmak
Ukrainian: чавити
Vietnamese: siết chặt
All related terms of 'squeeze'
squeeze-box
a small hexagonal musical instrument of the reed organ family in which metallic reeds are vibrated by air from a set of bellows operated by the player's hands . Notes are produced by pressing buttons
squeeze off
If you squeeze off a shot, you fire a bullet from a gun.
squeeze out
If a person or thing is squeezed out , they are no longer included in something that they were previously involved in.
cash squeeze
a shortage of money or funding
squeeze play
a play in which the batter bunts in an effort to allow a runner on third base to score
credit squeeze
the control of credit facilities as an instrument of economic policy , associated with restrictions on bank loans and overdrafts , raised interest rates , etc
profit squeeze
difficulty in maintaining the same amount of profit as previously, due to rising costs , increased competition , etc
squeeze bottle
a plastic container for a liquid or paste , designed to dispense its contents when squeezed
squeeze through
to succeed , survive , get through, etc. by a narrow margin or with difficulty