to press against with force in order to move: [~ + object]He rudely pushed them aside.[no object]They were pushing and shoving.
to move (something) in a certain way, as by exerting force: [~ + object]pushed the door open.[no object]He pushed past me.
to (cause to) extend or stick up or out; thrust: [no object]The plant pushed out of the soil.[~ + object]Pressure pushed lava to the surface.
to urge (someone) to some action, or on some course of action: [no object]He's pushing too hard at his new job.[~ + object]He's pushing himself too hard; he needs a break.[~ + object + to + verb]His parents pushed him to get a job.
to press (an action, proposal, etc.) with energy and by making demands: [~ + object]to push a bill through Congress.[no object]pushing for passage of the bill.
to urge or promote the use, sale, adoption, etc., of something; promote:[no object]still pushing for his vision of what our group should be about.
to press or bear hard upon:[~ + object]The lawyer began to push the witness for an answer.
Drugs, Slang Terms[Slang.]to sell (illegal drugs):[~]+[object]He was arrested for pushing cocaine and heroin.
Informal Termsto be approaching:[be + ~-ing;~ + object]The car was pushing the speed limit.
push around, to bully or intimidate: [~ + object + around]always pushing the younger boys around.[~ + around + object]always pushing around boys weaker than himself.
push off, [no object][Informal.]to go away; depart.
push on, [no object] to proceed; press forward:He pushed on with the project.
n.
[countable] the act of pushing; a shove or thrust.
[countable] a strong, determined effort, campaign, advance, military attack, etc.
Informal Terms[uncountable]energy to complete an activity; purpose; drive; enterprise.
Idioms
Idiomswhen or if push comes to shove, when or if a problem must finally be dealt with.
Informal Termsto be approaching a specific age, speed, or the like:The maestro is pushing ninety-two.
Photographyto modify (film processing) to compensate for underexposure.
v.i.
to exert a thrusting force upon something.
to use steady force in moving a thing away; shove.
to make one's way with effort or persistence, as against difficulty or opposition.
to extend or project; thrust:The point of land pushed far out into the sea.
to put forth vigorous or persistent efforts.
Drugs[Slang.]to sell illicit drugs.
to move on being pushed:a swinging door that pushes easily.
push around, to treat contemptuously and unfairly; bully:She's not the kind of person who can be pushed around.
push off, [Informal.]to go away; depart:We stopped at Denver for the night and were ready to push off again the following morning.
push on, to press forward; continue; proceed:The pioneers, despite overwhelming obstacles, pushed on across the plains.
push one's luck. See luck (def. 9).
n.
the act of pushing; a shove or thrust.
a contrivance or part to be pushed in order to operate a mechanism.
a vigorous onset or effort.
a determined advance against opposition, obstacles, etc.
a vigorous and determined military attack or campaign:The big push began in April.
the pressure of circumstances, activities, etc.
Informal Termspersevering energy; enterprise.
Informal Termsa crowd or company of people.
British Termsdismissal from a job; sack.
British Terms[Australian Slang.]a gang of hoodlums.
Idiomswhen or if push comes to shove, when or if matters are ultimately confronted or resolved; when or if a problem must be faced; in a crucial situation:If push comes to shove, the government will impose quotas on imports.
Latin pulsāre. See pulsate
Middle French pousser, Old French po(u)lser
Middle English pushen, poshen, posson (verb, verbal) 1250–1300