press

noun

UK /pres/

Word Forms

singular	press
plural	presses

1

the press
newspapers and news magazines
the national/local/American/sports press
the popular/tabloid press
in the press:
She has been criticized in the press for not speaking out on this issue.
Synonyms and related words
Types of newspaper or magazine
back copy
back issue
back number
1. 1a
  journalists and photographers who work for newspapers or news magazines: can be followed by a singular or plural verb
  She finally emerged from her home to face the press.
  It’s a meeting for shareholders only, and the press are excluded.
  Synonyms and related words
  Journalists and groups of journalists
  journalist
  editor
  reporter
2. 1b
  only before nounrelating to the press
  a crowd of press photographers
  The story has received extensive press coverage (=reports in newspapers).
  Synonyms and related words
  Journalism and relating to journalism
  backstory
  blackout
  chequebook journalism
2
countable a machine used for printing newspapers, books, or magazines
Synonyms and related words
Relating to the business of publishing
asset
backlist
bibliography
Synonyms and related words
Machines and equipment with a specific use
3-D printing
air pump
cement mixer
See alsoprinting press
3
countable a business that publishes books. This word is sometimes used in company names
His first book was published by Edinburgh University Press.
Synonyms and related words
Publishers and companies that publish books
publisher
press
publishing house
4
countable a piece of equipment used for making something flat or smooth
a trouser press
Synonyms and related words
Machines and equipment according to general function
agitator
balance
blower
1. 4a
  a piece of equipment used for crushing something or for squeezing liquid out of it
  a garlic press
  Synonyms and related words
  Machines and equipment according to general function
  agitator
  balance
  blower
5
countable usually singulara single push on something such as a button or switch
give something a press:
He gave the buzzer one long press.
at the press of a button (=simply by pressing a button):
Internet shopping brings the shop to your door at the simple press of a button.
Synonyms and related words
The action or an instance of squeezing or pressing
squeeze
compression
nip
6
singular an act of making clothes smooth with an iron
give something a press:
I’ll just give my trousers a quick press and then I’m ready.
Synonyms and related words
Washing, drying and ironing clothes
air
boil
the cleaners
7
singular a large number of people pushing in different directions
He pushed his way through the press of people.
Synonyms and related words
General words for groups of people
age group
array
assemblage
8
countable Scottisha cupboard
Synonyms and related words
Cupboards
airing cupboard
bureau
cabinet

phrases

(a) bad/good press

go to press

press

noun

US /pres/

Word Forms

singular	press
plural	presses

1

the press
newspapers and news magazines
the national/local/American/sports press
the popular/tabloid press
in the press:
She has been criticized in the press for not speaking out on this issue.
Synonyms and related words
Types of newspaper or magazine
back copy
back issue
back number
1. 1a
  reporters and photographers who work for newspapers or news magazines
  She finally emerged from her home to face the press.
  It’s a meeting for shareholders only, and the press is excluded.
  Synonyms and related words
  Journalists and groups of journalists
  journalist
  editor
  reporter
2. 1b
  only before nounrelating to the press
  a crowd of press photographers
  The story has received extensive press coverage (=reports in newspapers).
  Synonyms and related words
  Journalism and relating to journalism
  backstory
  blackout
  checkbook journalism
2
countable a machine used for printing newspapers, books, or magazines
Synonyms and related words
Relating to the business of publishing
asset
backlist
bibliography
Synonyms and related words
Machines and equipment with a specific use
3-D printing
air pump
backhoe
See alsoprinting press
3
countable a business that publishes books. This word is sometimes used in company names
His first book was published by Harvard University Press.
Synonyms and related words
Publishers and companies that publish books
publisher
press
publishing house
4
countable a piece of equipment used for making something flat or smooth
a steam press
Synonyms and related words
Machines and equipment according to general function
agitator
balance
blower
1. 4a
  a piece of equipment used for crushing something or for squeezing liquid out of it
  a garlic press
  Synonyms and related words
  Machines and equipment according to general function
  agitator
  balance
  blower
5
countable usually singulara single push on something such as a button or switch
at the press of a button (=simply by pressing a button):
Internet shopping brings the store to your home at the simple press of a button.
Synonyms and related words
The action or an instance of squeezing or pressing
squeeze
compression
nip
6
singular an act of making clothes smooth with an iron
give something a press:
I’ll just give my shirt a quick press and then I’m ready.
Synonyms and related words
Washing, drying and ironing clothes
air
boil
the cleaners
7
singular a large number of people pushing in different directions
He pushed his way through the press of people.
Synonyms and related words
General words for groups of people
age group
array
assemblage

phrases

bad/good press

go to press

press

verb

UK /pres/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	press
he/she/it	presses
present participle	pressing
past tense	pressed
past participle	pressed

1
intransitive/transitive to push one thing against another
press against:
Her face was pressing against his chest.
press something against something:
Children were pressing their faces against the window.
press yourself against something:
They had to press themselves against the wall to let the horse pass.
press something to something:
Even with the phone pressed to his ear, he couldn’t hear what she was saying.
press something into something:
The minister pressed a bible into his hand.
press down on something:
He felt the enormous weight of the man pressing down on his back.
Synonyms and related words
To press or squeeze something
press
squeeze
depress
1. 1a
  transitive to push something such as a button or switch in order to make a piece of equipment start working
  To read your email, press the return key.
  Could you press the button for the third floor, please?
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a machine or piece of equipment work
  activate
  actuate
  coax
2
intransitive to move as a group by pushing together in a particular direction
press forward:
A wave of protesters pressed forward towards the building.
press around:
The crowd of fans began to press more closely around them.
Synonyms and related words
To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction
head
go
progress
3
transitive to try in a determined way to make someone do something or tell you something
press someone about/on something:
She continued to press him on the reasons for his decision.
press someone into (doing) something:
They had all been pressed into helping with the preparations for the party.
press someone to do something:
Managers are being pressed to ensure safety standards are met.
Synonyms and related words
To nag or force someone to do something
nag
force
compel
1. 3a
  to try to make someone accept something such as an opinion or a claim
  press a point:
  She gave no answer, so I didn’t press the point.
  press a claim:
  The young Duke of Normandy continued to press his claim to the English throne.
  press a case:
  He was in Washington today to press the case for reforming tax laws.
  Synonyms and related words
  To show or agree that something is true
  show
  prove
  point to
4
transitive to make clothes smooth using a hot iron
Synonyms and related words
Washing, drying and ironing clothes
air
boil
the cleaners
5
transitive to squeeze fruit or vegetables in order to get juice or oil out of them
Synonyms and related words
Prepare food for cooking or eating
bake
beat
blanch
6
transitive to make CDs or records in a factory
Synonyms and related words
General words for to produce goods
productise
productize
produce

phrases

press someone’s arm/hand

press charges (against someone)

press the flesh

press something home

press someone/something into service

phrasal verbs

press ahead

press for

press on

press

verb

US /pres/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	press
he/she/it	presses
present participle	pressing
past tense	pressed
past participle	pressed

1
intransitive/transitive to push one thing against another
press against:
Her face was pressing against his chest.
press something against something:
Children were pressing their faces against the window.
press yourself against something:
They had to press themselves against the wall to let the horse pass.
press something to something:
Even with the phone pressed to his ear, he couldn’t hear what she was saying.
press something into something:
The minister pressed a bible into his hand.
press down on something:
He felt the enormous weight of the man pressing down on his back.
Synonyms and related words
To press or squeeze something
press
squeeze
rub
1. 1a
  transitive to push something such as a button or switch in order to make a piece of equipment start working
  To read your e-mail, press the return key.
  Could you press the button for the third floor, please?
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a machine or piece of equipment work
  activate
  actuate
  coax
2
intransitive to move as a group by pushing together in a particular direction
press forward:
A wave of protesters pressed forward toward the building.
press around:
The crowd of fans began to press more closely around them.
Synonyms and related words
To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction
head
go
progress
3
transitive to try in a determined way to make someone do something or tell you something
press someone about/on something:
She continued to press him on the reasons for his decision.
press someone into (doing) something:
They had all been pressed into helping with the preparations for the party.
press someone to do something:
Managers are being pressed to ensure safety standards are met.
Synonyms and related words
To nag or force someone to do something
shanghai
nag
force
1. 3a
  to try to make someone accept something such as an opinion or a claim
  press a point:
  She gave no answer, so I didn’t press the point.
  press a claim:
  The young Duke of Normandy continued to press his claim to the English throne.
  press a case:
  He was in Washington today to press the case for reforming tax laws.
  Synonyms and related words
  To show or agree that something is true
  show
  prove
  point to
4
transitive to make clothes smooth using a hot iron
Synonyms and related words
Washing, drying and ironing clothes
air
boil
the cleaners
5
transitive to squeeze fruit or vegetables in order to get juice or oil out of them
Synonyms and related words
Prepare food for cooking or eating
bake
beat
blanch
6
transitive to make CDs or records in a factory
Synonyms and related words
General words for to produce goods
productise
productize
produce

phrases

press someone’s arm/hand

press charges (against someone)

press the flesh

press something home

press someone/something into service

phrasal verbs

press ahead

press for

press on

press ​‌‌‌

the press

press ​‌‌‌

the press

press ​‌‌‌

press ​‌‌‌

press

press

press

press