push

I UK [pʊʃ] / US verb
Word forms "push":
present tense I/you/we/they push he/she/it pushes present participle pushing past tense pushed past participle pushed
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1) [intransitive/transitive] to move someone or something away from you, or from their previous position, using part of your body, especially your hands

Push as hard as you can.

push someone/something away:

She gently pushed him away.

push something around:

He was pushing a trolley around the supermarket.

push at:

He pushed at a door in the courtyard.

push someone/something into someone/something:

Rebecca pushed her handkerchief into her pocket.

push someone/something against someone/something:

The table had been pushed against the wall.

push something open/shut:

I pushed open the door with my foot.

2) [intransitive/transitive] to press a button on a machine

To turn on the television, you push this switch.

3) [intransitive/transitive] to move past or through a group of people or things by using a part of your body to move them away from you

Stop pushing and just wait your turn.

Pushing to the front of the queue, he managed to get the last tickets.

push past:

He just pushed past Fred and left.

push your way through:

I was pushing my way through the crowd.

push and shove:

People were pushing and shoving, trying to get to the best seats first.

4) [transitive] informal to try to make people buy a product or accept an idea

He saw the interview as an opportunity to push his latest film.

5) [transitive] informal to sell illegal drugs

6) [transitive] to make something reach a particular level or standard

push something up/down/into/towards:

The Bank of England had pushed up interest rates sharply to protect the pound from speculators.

The strong sunshine had pushed temperatures into the nineties.

7)

a) [transitive] to encourage or force someone in a determined way to do something they do not want to do

push someone to do something:

The United States pushed NATO to authorize military intervention.

push someone into (doing) something:

The police pushed her into giving evidence.

b) to force someone to make a great effort, especially at school or in their career

A lot of parents push their children, but my dad only ever encourages and supports me.

8) [transitive] to make someone impatient or annoyed by behaving in an unreasonable way

If you push him too far, he'll resign.

9) [intransitive] if an army pushes into, through, or across a country or area, it moves further into, through, or across it, using force

Government troops pushed into the northern sector.

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be pushing thirty/forty/fifty etc — informal to be nearly a particular age

Her new boyfriend must be pushing forty.

push someone/something from your mind= push someone/something to the back of your mind — to avoid thinking about someone or something

He pushed her completely from his mind.

Lucy pushed the idea firmly to the back of her mind.

push it/push your luck — informal to take a big risk by doing something that is likely to cause you trouble

I think you're pushing your luck asking for another pay rise.

Phrasal verbs:

- push ahead

- push around

- push aside

- push away

- push back

- push for

- push forward

- push in

- push off

- push on

- push over

- push through

See:

daisy

II UK [pʊʃ] / US noun
Word forms "push":
singular push plural pushes
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1) [countable] a movement in which you push someone or something using part of your body, especially your hands

He opened the door with a violent push.

give someone/something a push:

Jan helped me give the car a push.

2) [countable] a determined attempt to do something

push for:

an unsuccessful push for financial reform

a push to do something:

The two sides began a final push to reach an agreement before the deadline.

3) [singular] a way of encouraging or forcing someone to do something that they do not want to do

give someone a push (to do something):

I knew I could do it – I just needed someone to give me an extra push.

need a push (to do something):

Some people need a little push to make new friends.

4) [countable] a movement by an army further into or through a country or area, using force

push on:

The army begin their push on the town at dawn.

5) [uncountable] the energy and determination to achieve something

She's got the push to get to the top in any business.

6) [singular] informal something that is difficult to do, especially because you do not have much time

It'll be a bit of a push, but we'll manage it.

•

give someone/get the push — British

informal if someone gives you the push, or if you get the push, you are sent away from your job; British informal if someone gives you the push, or if you get the push, the person you are having a sexual relationship with tells you they want to end the relationship

Six people from head office are getting the push.

I finally gave him the push last night.

if/whenpush comes to shove/it comes to the push — if or when you are forced to make a decision or do something difficult

If push came to shove, I would be willing to try.

- at a push