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2press verb 1 : to bear down upon : push steadily against

2 : ASSAIL, COMPEL

3 : to squeeze out the juice or contents of <~ grapes>

4 : to squeeze to a desired density, shape, or smoothness; especially : IRON

5 a : to try hard to persuade : URGE

b : to move to action or reaction through pressure

6 : to follow through : PROSECUTE

7 : to crowd closely

8 : to force one's way

9 : to require haste or speed in action

10 : to insist on or request urgently

— press·er noun

Synonyms

[1] bear, depress, shove, weigh; also compress, squash, squeeze; compel, force, pressure; lean (on or against), muscle; drive, propel, thrust; compact, constrict, contract, crush, wring; cram, jam, jam-pack, pack, stuff, wedge

[3] crush, express, mash, squeeze; also pulp, puree; extract, extrude

[5b] coerce, compel, constrain, drive, force, make, muscle, obligate, oblige, pressure, urge—more at FORCE

[7] bunch, cluster, crowd, huddle; also assemble, collect, congregate, flock, gather, herd, swarm, throng; encircle, mob, surround; embrace, hug

[8] bulldoze, elbow, muscle, push; also jostle; ram, shove, thrust

usually press for [10] call, claim, clamor, command, demand, enjoin, exact, insist, quest, stipulate—more at DEMAND

press agent noun : an agent employed to establish and maintain good public relations through publicity

press·ing adjective : urgently important

Synonyms

acute, critical, dire, imperative, imperious, instant, urgent—more at ACUTE

press·man noun : the operator of a press and esp. a printing press

press·room noun 1 : a room in a printing plant containing the printing presses

2 : a room for the use of reporters

1pressure noun 1 : the burden of physical or mental distress

2 : the action of pressing; especially : the application of force to something by something else in direct contact with it

3 : the force exerted over a surface divided by its area

4 : the stress or urgency of matters demanding attention

Synonyms

strain, stress, tension—more at STRESS

coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, force—more at FORCE

2pressure verb pres·sured; pres·sur·ing 1 : to apply pressure to

2 : to cause an action or reaction as a result of applied pressure

Synonyms

coerce, compel, constrain, drive, force, make, muscle, obligate, oblige, press—more at FORCE

pressure group noun : a group that seeks to influence governmental policy but not to elect candidates to office

pressure suit noun : an inflatable suit for high-altitude flight or spaceflight to protect the body from low pressure

pres·sur·ise British variant of PRESSURIZE

pres·sur·ize verb -ized; -iz·ing 1 : to maintain higher pressure within than without; especially : to maintain normal atmospheric pressure within (as an airplane cabin) during high-altitude flight or spaceflight

2 : to apply pressure to

3 : to design to withstand pressure

— pres·sur·i·za·tion noun

pres·ti·dig·i·ta·tion noun : SLEIGHT OF HAND

pres·tige noun [ORIGIN: F, fr. MF, conjuror's trick, illusion, fr. LL praestigium, fr. L praestigiae, pl., conjuror's tricks, fr. praestringere to graze, blunt, constrict, fr. prae- in front of + stringere to bind tight]

: standing or estimation in the eyes of people : REPUTATION

pres·ti·gious adjective : having prestige

Synonyms

name, reputable, reputed, respectable—more at RESPECTABLE

distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, preeminent, signal, star, superior—more at EMINENT

pres·to adverb or adjective [ORIGIN: It, quick, quickly]

1 : suddenly as if by magic : IMMEDIATELY

2 : at a rapid tempo — used as a direction in music

Synonyms

apace, briskly, fast, full tilt, hastily, immediately, posthaste, pronto, quick, quickly, rapidly, soon, speedily, swift, swiftly—more at FAST

pre·stress verb : to introduce internal stresses into (as a structural beam) to counteract later load stresses

pre·sum·ably adverb : by reasonable assumption

Synonyms

apparently, evidently,