PUSH

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does push mean? 

• PUSH (noun)
  The noun PUSH has 5 senses:

1. the act of applying force in order to move something away

2. the force used in pushing

3. enterprising or ambitious drive

4. an electrical switch operated by pressing

5. an effort to advance

  Familiarity information: PUSH used as a noun is common.

• PUSH (verb)
  The verb PUSH has 10 senses:

1. move with force

2. press, drive, or impel (someone) to action or completion of an action

3. make publicity for; try to sell (a product)

4. strive and make an effort to reach a goal

5. press against forcefully without moving

6. approach a certain age or speed

7. exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for

8. sell or promote the sale of (illegal goods such as drugs)

9. move strenuously and with effort

10. make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby

  Familiarity information: PUSH used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PUSH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of applying force in order to move something away

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

push; pushing

Context example:

the pushing is good exercise

Hypernyms ("push" is a kind of...):

actuation; propulsion (the act of propelling)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "push"):

jog; nudge (a slight push or shake)

press; pressing; pressure (the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure)

shove (the act of shoving (giving a push to someone or something))

boost (the act of giving a push)

depression (pushing down)

Derivation:

push (move with force)

push (press against forcefully without moving)

push (move strenuously and with effort)

push (make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The force used in pushing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

push; thrust

Context example:

the thrust of the jet engines

Hypernyms ("push" is a kind of...):

force ((physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity)

Derivation:

push (make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby)

push (move with force)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Enterprising or ambitious drive

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

energy; get-up-and-go; push

Context example:

Europeans often laugh at American energy

Hypernyms ("push" is a kind of...):

drive (the trait of being highly motivated)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "push"):

second wind (renewed energy or strength to continue an undertaking)

Derivation:

push (press, drive, or impel (someone) to action or completion of an action)

push (strive and make an effort to reach a goal)

push (exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for)

pushy (marked by aggressive ambition and energy and initiative)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An electrical switch operated by pressing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

button; push; push button

Context example:

the push beside the bed operated a buzzer at the desk

Hypernyms ("push" is a kind of...):

electric switch; electrical switch; switch (control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "push"):

mouse button (a push button on the mouse)

reset button (a push button that you press to activate the reset mechanism)

panic button (a button to push in order to summon help in case of an emergency)

horn button (a button that you press to activate the horn of an automobile)

bell; buzzer; doorbell (a push button at an outer door that gives a ringing or buzzing signal when pushed)

bell push (a button that is pushed to ring a bell)

Holonyms ("push" is a part of...):

push-button radio (a radio receiver that can be tuned by pressing buttons)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An effort to advance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the army made a push toward the sea

Hypernyms ("push" is a kind of...):

advance; advancement; forward motion; onward motion; procession; progress; progression (the act of moving forward (as toward a goal))

Derivation:

push (press, drive, or impel (someone) to action or completion of an action)

• PUSH (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move with force

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

force; push

Context example:

He pushed the table into a corner

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

"Push" entails doing...:

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

press (exert pressure or force to or upon)

Verb group:

push (press against forcefully without moving)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "push"):

obtrude; push out; thrust out (push to thrust outward)

tip; topple; tumble (cause to topple or tumble by pushing)

shove; squeeze; stuff; thrust (press or force)

jam (push down forcibly)

drive (urge forward)

thrust (push forcefully)

push up (push upward)

muscle into (force one's way)

push aside; push away (push out of the way)

nose (push or move with the nose)

jostle; shove (come into rough contact with while moving)

flick; jerk (throw or toss with a quick motion)

shove (push roughly)

beat back; drive; force back; push back; repel; repulse (cause to move back by force or influence)

press; push (make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby)

nudge; poke at; prod (to push against gently)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

They push the books into the box

Antonym:

pull (cause to move by pulling)

Derivation:

push (the act of applying force in order to move something away)

push (the force used in pushing)

pusher (a small vehicle with four wheels in which a baby or child is pushed around)

pushing (the act of applying force in order to move something away)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Press, drive, or impel (someone) to action or completion of an action

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

bear on; push

Context example:

He pushed her to finish her doctorate

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

exhort; press; urge; urge on (force or impel in an indicated direction)

Verb group:

drive; labor; labour; push; tug (strive and make an effort to reach a goal)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "push"):

nudge (push into action by pestering or annoying gently)

bull; bull through (push or force)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

Sam cannot push Sue

Derivation:

push (an effort to advance)

push (enterprising or ambitious drive)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make publicity for; try to sell (a product)

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

advertise; advertize; promote; push

Context example:

The company is heavily advertizing their new laptops

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

praise (express approval of)

Verb group:

agitate; campaign; crusade; fight; press; push (exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "push"):

agitate; campaign; crusade; fight; press; push (exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for)

bill (advertise especially by posters or placards)

propagandise; propagandize (spread by propaganda)

plug (make a plug for; praise the qualities or in order to sell or promote)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue push the movie

Sense 4

Meaning:

Strive and make an effort to reach a goal

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

drive; labor; labour; push; tug

Context example:

She is driving away at her doctoral thesis

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

fight; struggle (make a strenuous or labored effort)

Verb group:

bear on; push (press, drive, or impel (someone) to action or completion of an action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "push"):

reach; strain; strive (to exert much effort or energy)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Also:

push on (continue moving forward)

Derivation:

push (enterprising or ambitious drive)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Press against forcefully without moving

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

she pushed against the wall with all her strength

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

press (exert pressure or force to or upon)

Verb group:

push (move strenuously and with effort)

force; push (move with force)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

push (the act of applying force in order to move something away)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Approach a certain age or speed

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

crowd; push

Context example:

She is pushing fifty

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

approach; come near; come on; draw close; draw near; go up; near (move towards)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

agitate; campaign; crusade; fight; press; push

Context example:

The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

advertise; advertize; promote; push (make publicity for; try to sell (a product))

Verb group:

advertise; advertize; promote; push (make publicity for; try to sell (a product))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

push (enterprising or ambitious drive)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Sell or promote the sale of (illegal goods such as drugs)

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

The guy hanging around the school is pushing drugs

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

deal; sell; trade (do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood)

Domain category:

crime; criminal offence; criminal offense; law-breaking ((criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

pusher (an unlicensed dealer in illegal drugs)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Move strenuously and with effort

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The crowd pushed forward

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Verb group:

push (press against forcefully without moving)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

push (the act of applying force in order to move something away)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

press; push

Context example:

'Now push hard,' said the doctor to the woman

Hypernyms (to "push" is one way to...):

force; push (move with force)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

push (the act of applying force in order to move something away)

push (the force used in pushing)

 Context examples 

We could see the marks in the wood where it had been pushed in.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He then pushed open the door and entered.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Take advantage of this rosy trend by pushing yourself to leave the house to mix with others more often.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by wind and tide.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We must push on harder than ever; our help may be wanted soon.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“And having such a knowledge of our own umbleness, we must really take care that we're not pushed to the wall by them as isn't umble. All stratagems are fair in love, sir.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The rest of the dogs were in like condition; but Perrault, to make up lost time, pushed them late and early.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

With a quick movement Holmes pushed the fellow to one side and passed into the hall.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Ah, Merry,” remarked Silver, “standing for cap'n again? You're a pushing lad, to be sure.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)