push
verb /pʊʃ/
/pʊʃ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they push | /pʊʃ/ /pʊʃ/ |
| he / she / it pushes | /ˈpʊʃɪz/ /ˈpʊʃɪz/ |
| past simple pushed | /pʊʃt/ /pʊʃt/ |
| past participle pushed | /pʊʃt/ /pʊʃt/ |
| -ing form pushing | /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/ /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to use your hands, arms or body in order to make somebody/something move forward or away from you; to move part of your body into a particular position
- We pushed and pushed but the piano wouldn't move.
- Push hard when I tell you to.
- You push and I'll pull.
- push at something She pushed at the door but it wouldn't budge.
- push somebody/something He walked slowly up the hill pushing his bike.
- Somebody pushed me and I fell over.
- When you push the gate, it doesn't open.
- push somebody/something + adv./prep. She pushed the cup towards me.
- He pushed his chair back and stood up.
- He tried to kiss her but she pushed him away.
- She pushed her face towards him.
- push something + adj. I pushed the door open.
Extra Examples- He pushed her roughly out of the door.
- He was deliberately pushed into the path of the vehicle.
- Jack flung himself at Steve, but he simply pushed him away.
- She found a note pushed under the door.
- She leaned on the box and pushed it aside.
- The woman had been pushed violently to the ground.
- They pushed the two desks together.
- Ellie stood up, pushing her plate away.
- I pushed the key into the lock.
- The doctor pushed a needle into my arm.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- firmly
- hard
- angrily
- …
- try to
- manage to
- begin to
- …
- against
- at
- out of
- …
- push something open
- push something shut
- [intransitive, transitive] to use force to move past somebody/something using your hands, arms, etc.
- People were pushing and shoving to get to the front.
- push + adv./prep. The fans pushed against the barrier.
- push your way + adv./prep. Try and push your way through the crowd.
Extra Examples- A man pushed his way to the front of the crowd.
- She pushed blindly past him and made for the door.
- Please don't push in front of other customers.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- firmly
- hard
- angrily
- …
- try to
- manage to
- begin to
- …
- against
- at
- out of
- …
- push something open
- push something shut
- [transitive] push something to press a switch, button, etc., for example in order to make a machine start working
- I pushed the button for the top floor.
- The operator must have accidentally pushed the switch on the joystick.
- She pushed a lever and the machine responded.
- Push the red button to open the doors.
- [transitive] push something + adv./prep. to affect something so that it reaches a particular level or state
- This development could push the country into recession.
- The rise in interest rates will push prices up.
- Little pent-up demand exists to push the economy forward this year.
- The surplus has helped push world prices to as little as 55 euros per tonne.
- Such a huge population increase will continue to push food prices higher.
- Rising inflation pushes down real interest rates.
- [transitive] to persuade or encourage somebody to do something that they may not want to do
- push somebody into something He made it clear that he would resist any attempt to push him into early retirement.
- push somebody into doing something My teacher pushed me into entering the competition.
- push somebody to do something No one pushed you to take the job, did they?
Extra ExamplesTopics Discussion and agreementb2- Her parents pushed her into accepting the job.
- She claimed she had been pushed into posing for the photographs.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- aggressively
- hard
- too far
- …
- into
- for
- push somebody/yourself to the limit
- [transitive] push somebody/yourself to make somebody work hard
- The music teacher really pushes her pupils.
- Lucy should push herself a little harder.
- He keeps pushing himself to get better.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- aggressively
- hard
- too far
- …
- into
- for
- push somebody/yourself to the limit
- [transitive] push somebody (+ adv./prep.) (informal) to put pressure on somebody and make them angry or upset
- Her parents are very tolerant, but sometimes she pushes them too far.
- He felt he was being pushed to the limit of his self-control.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- aggressively
- hard
- too far
- …
- into
- for
- push somebody/yourself to the limit
- [transitive] push something (informal) to try hard to persuade people to accept or agree with a new idea, buy a new product, etc.
- The interview gave him a chance to push his latest movie.
- She didn't want to push the point any further at that moment.
- He continues to push his own political agenda.
- Sales promotion is designed to push certain products.
- The two governments are pushing for economic reform in the region.
- They're pushing hard for a ban on GM foods.
- [transitive] push something (informal) to sell illegal drugsTopics Crime and punishmentc2
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move forward quickly through an area
- The army pushed (on) towards the capital.
using hands/arms/body
switch/button
affect something
persuade
work hard
put pressure on somebody
new idea/product
sell drugs
of army
Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb): from Old French pousser, from Latin pulsare ‘to push, beat, pulse’ (see the verb pulse). The early sense was ‘exert force on’, giving rise later to ‘make a strenuous effort, endeavour’.
Idioms
be pushing 40, 50, etc.
- (informal) to be nearly 40, 50, etc. years old
be pushing up (the) daisies
- (old-fashioned, humorous) to be dead and buried in the ground
press/push the panic button
- to react in a sudden or extreme way to something unexpected that has frightened you
- The prime minister pressed the panic button yesterday as Britain’s economy plunged deeper into crisis.
push all the (right) buttons
(also press all the (right) buttons especially in British English)
- (informal) to do exactly the right things to please somebody
- a new satirical comedy show that pushes all the right buttons
push the boat out
- (British English, informal) to spend a lot of money on enjoying yourself or celebrating something synonym splash out (on something)
push the boundaries/limits
- to attempt to go beyond what is allowed or thought to be possible
- We aim to push the boundaries of what we can achieve.
- She pushes her physical limits through various endurance challenges.
push the envelope
- (informal) to go beyond the limits of what is allowed or thought to be possible
- He is a performer who consistently pushes the envelope of TV comedy.
push your luck | push it/things
- (informal) to take a risk because you have successfully avoided problems in the past
- You didn't get caught last time, but don't push your luck!
push somebody over/to the edge
- to force somebody to lose control of their behaviour, usually after a particular event or series of events
- No one knows exactly what caused his breakdown, but losing his job may have pushed him over the edge.
push/press the panic button
- to react in a sudden or extreme way to something unexpected that has frightened you
- The prime minister pushed the panic button yesterday as Britain's economy plunged deeper into crisis.
push something to the back of your mind
- to try to forget about something unpleasant
- I tried to push the thought to the back of my mind.