pressure
noun OPAL WOPAL S
/ˈpreʃə(r)/
/ˈpreʃər/
Idioms - [uncountable] the act of trying to persuade or to force somebody to do something
- pressure for something The pressure for change continued to mount.
- pressure on somebody We are determined to keep up the pressure on the other member states.
- pressure on somebody to do something There is intense pressure on her to resign.
- pressure to do something In every society there is strong pressure to conform.
- Do you feel any pressure to dress in a certain way?
- We must bring pressure to bear on our government to reverse this decision.
- pressure from somebody/something The company is facing increasing pressure from shareholders
- The government eventually bowed to popular pressure (= they agreed to do what people were trying to get them to do).
Extra ExamplesTopics Discussion and agreementb1, Businessb1- pressure from religious groups
- pressure for change in the country's economy
- This has heightened pressure for economic sanctions against the regime.
- Retailers face added pressure to have the products available by Christmas.
- Large companies were criticized for using pressure tactics against small suppliers.
- This concession would not have happened but for the pressure that was brought to bear on the authorities.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- enormous
- great
- intense
- …
- bring to bear
- exert
- generate
- …
- intensify
- mount
- group
- tactic
- under pressure
- pressure for
- pressure from
- …
- keep the pressure on somebody
- keep up the pressure on somebody
- maintain the pressure on somebody
- …
- [uncountable](also pressures [plural])difficulties and worries that are caused by the need to achieve or to behave in a particular way
- You need to be able to handle pressure in this job.
- pressure of something She was unable to attend because of the pressure of work.
- How can anyone enjoy the pressures of city life?
- pressure on somebody The economic pressures on small businesses are intense.
Synonyms pressurepressure- stress
- tension
- strain
- pressure difficulties and feelings of worry that are caused by the need to achieve something or to behave in a particular way:
- She was unable to attend because of the pressures of work.
- stress pressure or worry caused by the problems in somebody’s life:
- stress-related illnesses
- tension a feeling of worry and stress that makes it impossible to relax:
- nervous tension
- strain pressure on somebody/something because they have too much to do or manage; the problems or worry that this produces:
- I found it a strain looking after four children.
- to be under pressure/stress/strain
- considerable pressure/stress/tension/strain
- to cause stress/tension/strain
- to cope with the pressure/stress/tension/strain
- to relieve/release the pressure/stress/tension/strain
- to be suffering from stress/tension
Extra Examples- His own desires conflict with external pressures to conform.
- When more people move into an area, that creates pressures.
- They are looking for ways to ease the pressure of their stress-filled, competitive existence.
- There's a lot of pressure on the soldiers preparing for battle.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- constant
- intolerable
- …
- place somebody under
- put somebody under
- create
- …
- build up
- increase
- under pressure
- pressure on
- pressure of work
- [uncountable] the force or weight with which something presses against something else
- The nurse applied pressure to his arm to stop the bleeding.
- The barriers gave way under the pressure of the crowd.
- Last year he had brain surgery to relieve pressure from a blood clot.
Extra ExamplesTopics Physics and chemistryb2- Pressure sensors in the seats tell the system which ones aren't occupied.
- Reducing the swelling will relieve the pressure on her spine.
- The door swung open beneath the gentle pressure of Jill's hand.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- gentle
- light
- firm
- …
- apply
- exert
- put
- …
- sensor
- [uncountable, countable] the force produced by a particular amount of gas or liquid in a container or a limited space; the amount of this
- air/water pressure
- Check the tyre pressure (= the amount of air in a tyre) regularly.
- a pressure gauge (= an instrument used for measuring the pressure of a liquid or a gas)
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- elevated
- high
- low
- …
- build up
- increase
- rise
- …
- gauge
- valve
- cooker
- …
- [uncountable] pressure (on something) the effect that something has on the way a situation develops, especially when this causes problems
- This puts upward pressure on prices.
- The high unemployment rate was exerting downward pressure on wage growth.
- These measures are intended to relieve the pressure on the prison system.
- They raised the starting threshold for income tax to ease the pressure on family budgets.
- [uncountable] the force of the atmosphere on the earth’s surface
- A band of high/low pressure is moving across the country.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- elevated
- high
- low
- …
- build up
- increase
- rise
- …
- gauge
- valve
- cooker
- …
persuasion/force
stress
when something presses
of gas/liquid
effect on something
of atmosphere
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, from Latin pressura, from press- ‘pressed’, from the verb premere.
Idioms
put pressure on somebody (to do something)
- to force or to try to persuade somebody to do something
- Advertisements put pressure on girls to be thin.
Extra Examples- My parents never put any pressure on me to get a job.
- Her family put great pressure on her not to marry him.
- the use of the internet to put international pressure on authoritarian regimes
under pressure
- if a liquid or a gas is kept under pressure, it is forced into a container so that when the container is opened, the liquid or gas escapes quickly
- Draught beer is pumped out of the barrel under pressure.
- being forced to do something
- The director is under increasing pressure to resign.
- Hospital staff are coming under pressure to work longer hours.
Extra Examples- The pound came under pressure from foreign currencies today, increasing the chances of a rise in interest rates.
- Management is under pressure to set an example on pay restraint.
- Manufacturers are under pressure to put profit ahead of safety.
- The President is coming under pressure to call a referendum.
- made to feel anxious about something you have to do
- The team performs well under pressure.
- He's felt under pressure since his wife had the operation.