press
press — verb
1. to use your hand, finger, or body to apply steady force against something, usual
to use your hand, finger, or body to apply steady force against something, usually without moving it from its original position
Kevin pressed his nose against the train window and waved goodbye.
transitive + against [surface]
Iker pressed the doorbell but nobody came to open the door.
Anjali pressed down gently on the bandage to stop the bleeding.
collocation: press down on [something]
People pressed forward as soon as the museum gates opened.
intransitive + adverb of direction
Hugo pressed the lid of the box until he heard it click shut.
- press against
- press down
- press forward
- press the button
- press the switch
- release
to stop applying pressure
Grammar Patterns
press + against / down / forward / through
Common Mistakes
2. to run a heated iron over clothes or fabric so that the material becomes flat an
to run a heated iron over clothes or fabric so that the material becomes flat and neat
Hoa pressed her school uniform before the graduation ceremony.
transitive; object is an item of clothing
The laundry service pressed all the shirts and hung them on padded hangers.
Naoko pressed the creases out of the tablecloth before dinner.
collocation: press + the creases out of
Tariq always presses his trousers on Sunday evening for the week ahead.
- press a shirt
- press trousers
- press a uniform
- press the creases out
- iron
iron is the more common word in American English; press is slightly more formal
Grammar Patterns
press + clothing item
Usage Note
In British English, press is the usual verb for ironing clothes. In American English, iron is more common, though press is still understood.
Common Mistakes
3. to crush fruit, vegetables, or other soft produce with weight or pressure so tha
to crush fruit, vegetables, or other soft produce with weight or pressure so that the liquid comes out
The farm workers pressed the grapes with their feet to make wine.
object is fruit; traditional method
Heloísa pressed the oranges by hand to make fresh juice for breakfast.
At the olive farm, heavy machines press the fruit to produce cooking oil.
Sari pressed the tofu block under a heavy plate to remove the extra water.
extended use: pressing tofu to remove liquid
- press grapes
- press oranges
- press olives
- press tofu
Grammar Patterns
press + fruit / vegetable
4. to shape a flat object such as a CD, DVD, or record by putting soft material int
to shape a flat object such as a CD, DVD, or record by putting soft material into a mould and applying strong pressure
The factory pressed thousands of vinyl records each week for music labels.
object is a disc or record
Chidi's band pressed their first album from a master recording.
Most DVDs are now pressed in automated facilities with high precision.
passive: be pressed in [location]
The company pressed a limited edition of the game for collectors.
- press a CD
- press a DVD
- press a record
- press an album
- manufacture
manufacture is a broader term for making any product; press is specific to moulding with pressure
- stamp
stamp is used for pressing designs into a surface rather than shaping an entire object
Grammar Patterns
press + [disc / record / CD]
5. to put something between two hard surfaces or under a weight so that it becomes
to put something between two hard surfaces or under a weight so that it becomes flat, thin, or compact
Reuben pressed the dried flowers between the pages of a heavy book.
collocation: press + between [surfaces]
Ilan pressed the soil down around the plant with both hands.
The chef pressed the sandwich on a hot grill until the bread turned golden.
Kevin pressed the fallen leaves under a stack of old magazines.
collocation: press + under [weight]
- press flowers
- press soil
- press leaves
- press between pages
Grammar Patterns
press + [object] + under / between
6. to keep asking someone in a forceful or determined way to do something that they
to keep asking someone in a forceful or determined way to do something that they are unwilling or hesitant to do
The charity worker pressed the politician to visit the refugee camp.
pattern: press + someone + to-infinitive
Hugo's parents pressed him to apply for medical school, but he refused.
The reporters pressed the minister for more details about the new policy.
collocation: press + [someone] + for [something]
Anjali pressed her brother to join her evening yoga class, but he preferred running.
- press someone to do something
- press for an answer
- press for details
- press someone for information
- discourage
to try to persuade someone not to do something
Grammar Patterns
press + [someone] + to + [verb]
Usage Note
Frequently used in journalism and negotiation contexts. The pattern press + someone + for + something asks for information or a decision rather than action.
Common Mistakes
7. to make a formal statement that someone has broken the law, asking for them to b
to make a formal statement that someone has broken the law, asking for them to be judged in a court of law
The victim's family decided not to press charges against the driver.
press + charges + against + person
After finding clear evidence of theft, Liang pressed charges against his former business partner.
Prosecutors pressed charges of fraud against the three company directors last week.
Pressing charges in such cases often requires months of careful preparation.
gerund form: pressing charges
The shop owner chose not to press charges because the stolen items were returned unharmed.
- press charges
- press charges against
- decide not to press charges
- threaten to press charges
- drop charges
withdrawing a legal accusation that was already made
Grammar Patterns
press + charges + against + somebody
Usage Note
Used almost exclusively in the fixed collocation 'press charges'. Always followed by 'against [the accused person]' when the target is named.
Common Mistakes
8. to keep asking for something in a forceful and determined way, insisting that ot
to keep asking for something in a forceful and determined way, insisting that others agree to your requests or conditions
Union leaders pressed for higher wages during the long negotiations.
press + for + [demand]
Adina pressed her parents on whether they would allow her to study abroad.
The journalist pressed the minister for answers about the new policy.
Environmental groups are pressing the government to act faster on climate change.
press + somebody + to-infinitive
Pressing too hard during talks may make the other side refuse to negotiate.
- press for
- press on
- press about
- press someone for an answer
- press ahead with
Grammar Patterns
press + for + something
press + somebody + on/about + something
press + somebody + to-infinitive
Usage Note
Commonly appears with prepositions 'for' (to demand something) or 'on/about' (to question someone persistently). Different from sense 6 (PERSUADE) in that this sense focuses on driving an agenda or set of demands, while sense 6 is about convincing someone to perform a specific action.
Common Mistakes
press — noun
1. the organisations that produce news — including newspapers, magazines, and broad
the organisations that produce news — including newspapers, magazines, and broadcast news divisions — together with the people who write, photograph, and present the news for them
The local press covered the town hall meeting in detail.
the local press; covered the meeting
Arjun hoped the press would not find out about the scandal.
the press would not find out about
Members of the press waited outside the courthouse all morning.
members of the press
The story received wide coverage in the national press.
Rodrigo works for the press as a freelance photographer.
- the local press
- the national press
- the foreign press
- press coverage
- press release
- press conference
- freedom of the press
- media
broader term that includes television, radio, and online platforms beyond print
- journalists
focuses only on the people who report news, not the organisations
- news media
more formal, often used in official contexts
Grammar Patterns
the press
Usage Note
Nearly always used with the definite article 'the'. Subject of the verb can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is seen as a unit or as individuals.
2. the collection of comments, opinions, and reports about a person, product, or ev
the collection of comments, opinions, and reports about a person, product, or event that appear in newspapers, magazines, and on television or radio
The new restaurant has been getting excellent press since it opened.
getting excellent press
The mayor received bad press after the budget cuts were announced.
received bad press
Sophia's novel earned her a lot of favourable press across Europe.
favourable press
Negative press about the product caused sales to drop sharply.
negative press about
- good press
- bad press
- favourable press
- negative press
- get press
- receive press
- earn press
- publicity
broader term that can include advertising and word-of-mouth, not just media reports
- coverage
more neutral; can refer to any type of media reporting, positive or negative
- media attention
emphasises the level of interest from journalists
Grammar Patterns
get/have/receive + (good/bad) + press
Usage Note
Commonly paired with adjectives such as 'good', 'bad', 'favourable', 'negative', and 'adverse'. Unlike sense 1, this sense describes the content or tone of coverage, not the institutions themselves.
Common Mistakes
3. a company or business that prepares written works such as books, magazines, or a
a company or business that prepares written works such as books, magazines, or academic journals and makes them available to the public, usually through printing or digital distribution
Cambridge University Press publishes textbooks for students around the world.
[name] Press publishes
Talia submitted her manuscript to a small independent press.
small independent press
The press specialises in translated works of Korean fiction.
Omar founded his own press after working for a large publisher.
- university press
- independent press
- small press
- academic press
- digital press
- submit to a press
- publisher
broader term covering any company that produces and distributes content
- publishing house
slightly more formal, often used for traditional book publishers
Grammar Patterns
[name] Press
Usage Note
Often capitalised when part of a proper name (e.g. 'Oxford University Press'). A 'small press' is one that produces fewer titles and is often independent of large publishing groups.
4. a piece of equipment that transfers words and images onto paper, fabric, or othe
a piece of equipment that transfers words and images onto paper, fabric, or other materials, used especially for producing books, newspapers, and advertising materials in large quantities
The old printing press could produce two thousand sheets per hour.
printing press could produce
Esme watched as the press printed the cover of the magazine.
A broken press shut down the newspaper factory for three days.
The invention of the printing press changed how knowledge was shared.
the invention of the printing press
- printing press
- run the press
- operate a press
- digital press
- offset press
- printing machine
more general term that can include modern digital printers
- printing press
the most common collocation, especially for large-scale newspaper or book printing
Usage Note
Often modified by 'printing' to avoid confusion with other senses ('printing press'). The historical 'printing press' invented by Gutenberg is a proper-noun-like fixed phrase.
5. the point at which a publication, such as a newspaper, magazine, or book, begins
the point at which a publication, such as a newspaper, magazine, or book, begins the actual printing process after all editing and design work is finished
The newspaper goes to press at eleven o'clock every night.
goes to press at
Piotr's article was submitted just before the magazine went to press.
before the magazine went to press
The final chapter was still unfinished when the book went to press.
Any corrections must be sent before our press deadline on Friday.
- go to press
- in press
- at press time
- press deadline
- print run
refers to the total number of copies printed, not the moment of starting
Grammar Patterns
go to press
in press
at press time
Usage Note
This sense appears almost exclusively in the fixed expressions 'go to press', 'in press', and 'at press time'. Not used freely as a standalone noun.
6. a single act of putting your finger or hand firmly onto something, usually a but
a single act of putting your finger or hand firmly onto something, usually a button, switch, or surface, in order to operate a device or apply light force
Pim gave the doorbell a quick press and waited for an answer.
gave [object] a [adjective] press
One more press of the button and the machine finally started.
one more press of the button
Haruto applied a gentle press to the bruise to check the swelling.
The lid pops open with a single press of the release catch.
- give a press
- with a press of
- a gentle press
- a quick press
- press of a button
- push
more general; can be done with any body part or tool, not just fingers
Grammar Patterns
give + noun + a press
Usage Note
Common in the pattern 'give [noun] a press' and 'with a press of [noun]'. Distinguish from senses 7 and 8 (both guide_word 'PUSH' in the same entry), which refer to ironing clothes and crushing equipment, respectively.
Common Mistakes
7. the action of running a hot iron over clothes or fabric to remove creases and ma
the action of running a hot iron over clothes or fabric to remove creases and make them look tidy
Renata gave her cotton dress a quick press before leaving for the party.
collocation: give [clothing] a press
The hotel offered to give my suit a press before the award ceremony.
collocation: give [clothing] a press
After the long flight, Sayaka's jacket needed a press to remove the creases.
collocation: need a press
A light press on a low temperature setting works best for silk shirts.
collocation: light press
The dry cleaner includes a press for each shirt at no extra cost.
- give [item] a press
- need a press
- light press
- quick press
- ironing
a more everyday word; 'press' is slightly more formal and often used in laundry-service contexts
Usage Note
Often used in the phrases 'give something a press' or 'need a press' to refer to the act of ironing a single item quickly.
8. a tool or machine that applies heavy pressure onto something, such as fruit or f
a tool or machine that applies heavy pressure onto something, such as fruit or food, in order to squeeze out juice, crush it into pieces, or change its shape
Vikram used a garlic press to crush the cloves for the pasta sauce.
collocation: garlic press
The old wine press could squeeze juice from a hundred grapes at once.
collocation: wine press
Inês pressed dried flowers between book pages as a homemade press.
A hydraulic press at the factory flattens metal sheets into car parts.
collocation: hydraulic press
Tamar bought a small fruit press for making fresh apple juice at home.
collocation: fruit press
- garlic press
- wine press
- flower press
- hydraulic press
- fruit press
- trouser press
Usage Note
The word 'press' in this sense is often combined with the name of the thing being processed (e.g. 'garlic press', 'wine press', 'flower press', 'hydraulic press').
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Press, push, squeeze, compress, and depress all involve applying force, but they differ in direction, intensity, and purpose. Press emphasises firm, steady contact without necessarily moving the object — you press a button, press your nose against a window, or press down on a bandage. Push usually causes movement away from the person or source: you push a door open, push a chair under a table, or push a stalled car. Squeeze involves pressure from opposite or multiple sides at once, typically to compress, extract, or fit something into a tight space: squeeze a lemon, squeeze through a crowd, or squeeze toothpaste from a tube. Compress is more technical and focuses on reducing volume — compressing files on a computer or compressing air in a pump. Depress is the most specific, used almost exclusively for pushing a mechanical button, switch, or lever downwards (depress the clutch pedal). In everyday use: "She pressed the lid down firmly" (steady contact, no movement), vs "She pushed the box across the table" (moved it away).
Common collocations
Etymology
Press comes from Latin "pressare", the frequentative (repeated-action) form of "premere" (to push, squeeze, or press down). It entered English through Old French "presser" in the 13th century. The original physical meaning — pushing or squeezing — gradually expanded to include figurative senses (urging someone, pressing demands) and specialised uses (printing press, hence the press as news organisations). The idea of a "printing press" dates to the 1500s, and by the 1800s "the press" had come to mean the newspapers and journalists themselves.