Definition of “press” - English Dictionary

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“press” in English

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pressverb

uk ​ /pres/ us ​ /pres/

press verb (PUSH)

B1 [ I or T, usually + adv/prep ] to push something firmly, often without causing it to move permanently further away from you:

Press the button to start the machine.
He pressed his face against the window.
Can you press a little harder on my shoulders, please?
The crowd pressed against the locked doors trying to get into the building.
Press down firmly on the lever.

› [ T ] to make clothes smooth by ironing them:

I'll just press these trousers.

› [ T ] to put a weight on fruit in order to remove the juice:

to press grapes

› [ T ] to make a CD, DVD, etc.:

Over 3,000 copies of the CD were pressed and sent out to college radio stations.

› [ T ] to make something flat and firm by putting it under something heavy:

The children pressed some flowers.
pressed turkey breast

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Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

press verb (PERSUADE)

C2 [ T ] to try hard to persuade someone to do something:

[ + obj + to infinitive ] The committee pressed him to reveal more information.
He's pressing me for an answer.
Can I press you further on (= persuade you to say more about) this issue?
press charges

C2 to complain officially about someone in a law court:

The family have decided not to press charges against him.
press a case/claim

› to continue to try to make people accept your demands:

Once again he tried to press his case for promotion.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

press sth/sb into service
press home your advantage
press the flesh

Phrasal verb(s)

press on/ahead
press sth on sb

pressnoun

uk ​ /pres/ us ​ /pres/

press noun (NEWSPAPERS)

the press [ S, + sing/pl verb ]

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B2 newspapers and magazines, and those parts of television and radio that broadcast news, or reporters and photographers who work for them:

The incident has been widely reported in the press.
press reports/coverage
press reporters/photographers
the local/national press
The charity invited the press (= reporters and photographers) to a presentation of its plans for the future.
The press was out in force at the awards ceremony.
Freedom of the press (= the right of newspapers to publish news and opinions without being controlled by the government) must be upheld.

C1 [ S or U ] the judgment that is given of someone or something in the newspapers or on radio or television:

What kind of press did his play get?
UK The play has had a good/bad press.
US The play has had good/bad press.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

press noun (PUSH)

› [ C usually singular ] a firm push against something using the fingers:

To start the machine, just give this button a press.

› [ S ] the act of making cloth smooth with an iron:

Can you give this shirt a quick press?

› [ C ] a piece of equipment that is used to put weight on something in order to crush it, remove liquid from it or to make it flat:

a garlic/trouser/wine press

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

(Definition of “press” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“press” in American English

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pressverb

us ​ /pres/

press verb (PUSH)

› [ I/T ] to push firmly against something that is fixed in position:

[ T ] I pressed the volume button on the remote.
[ I always + adv/prep ] The crowd pressed up against the doors.
[ I always + adv/prep ] He pressed down hard on the accelerator, and the car shot ahead.

› [ I/T ] When you press clothes, you use an iron (= a heavy device with a flat base) to make them smooth.

press verb (PERSUADE)

› [ T ] to try to persuade or cause someone to do something, or to act in a determined way to cause something to be accepted:

The police pressed her to identify the man she had seen.
Marquez will visit Washington to press his country’s case.
She decided not to press charges against him (= make an official complaint).

Phrasal verb(s)

press ahead (with something)
press for something
press on

pressnoun

us ​ /pres/

press noun (DEVICE)

› [ C ] any of various devices that use force:

a pants press
a garlic press
a printing press

press noun (NEWSPAPERS)

› [ U ] newspapers, magazines, and other businesses that communicate news to the public by print, television, or radio, or the people who work to prepare and present the news:

Is the press too conservative?

› [ U ] Good/bad press is the positive or negative reaction of newspapers, magazines, etc., to a person or thing:

At some point, every president has complained about bad press.

press noun (PUBLISHER)

› [ C ] a business that prints and produces books or other printed material:

Cambridge University Press

(Definition of “press” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“press” in Business English

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pressverb [ I or T ]

uk ​ /pres/ us ​

› to try hard to persuade someone to do something:

The committee pressed him to reveal more information.
press (sb) for sth The lawyers are likely to press for a settlement of claims.
press charges

› to complain officially about someone in a court of law:

press charges against sb Italian magistrates are expected to press charges against the company's founder.
press your case

› to try to make people accept your demands:

He was determined to press his case for promotion.

Phrasal verb(s)

press ahead/on
press sb about/on sth
press sth on sb

pressnoun

uk ​ /pres/ us ​

› also the press COMMUNICATIONS newspapers and magazines, and those parts of television and radio that broadcast news, or the people who work for newspapers, etc.:

in the press The company's problems have been widely reported in the press.
freedom of (the) press He was an outspoken activist in favor of freedom of press and freedom of speech.
The press was present at the briefing in large numbers and asked some awkward questions.
local/national press
press reports/coverage
press reporters/photographers

› [ S or U ] the judgment that is given about someone or something in the newspapers or on radio or television:

(a) good/bad press The announcement has had a generally good press.

› [ C ] a business that publishes and sometimes prints books, etc.:

Cambridge University Press

› [ C ] PRODUCTION a machine that is used for printing books, etc.:

a printing press
go to press

› to start to be printed, or to include something in a newspaper, etc.:

The last issue of the journal went to press before the news broke.
She had gone to press with the rumour without checking her sources first.

(Definition of “press” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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