Push: meaning, definitions and examples

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push

[pʊʃ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

action

To exert force on (someone or something) so as to move them away from oneself or from the source of the force.

Synonyms

force, press, shove, thrust.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
push	Used in everyday situations when you need to move something away from you by applying pressure. She had to push the door open to get inside. Help me push the car to the side of the road.
shove	Usually implies pushing something or someone roughly or with force. Often has a negative connotation. He shoved his way through the crowded room. Don't shove me, I can walk on my own.
thrust	Implies a sudden, strong movement forward, often with an element of force or intensity. She thrust the spear into the ground. He thrust his hand out to shake hers.
press	Used when you need to apply downward pressure on something, often with care or precision. Press the button to start the machine. She pressed the cloth to remove the wrinkles.
force	Often used in contexts where strength or power is applied to make something happen or move. Can imply urgency or aggression. He had to force the window open because it was stuck. The police forced their way into the building.

Examples of usage

He pushed the door open.
She pushed her way through the crowd.
The child pushed the toy car across the floor.
The police officer pushed the suspect against the wall.
The strong wind pushed the trees to the side.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

encouragement

To encourage or urge (someone) to do something.

Synonyms

encourage, motivate, prompt, urge.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
push	Best used when you need to apply strong pressure or force someone to take action. This can sometimes have a negative connotation if overdone. He tried to push his team to meet the tight deadlines She felt pushed into making a decision she wasn't ready for
encourage	More suitable when you aim to support, inspire, or give confidence to someone without applying pressure. Teachers should encourage their students to ask questions My parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams
urge	Used when you strongly advocate or recommend that someone do something, typically with a sense of urgency or importance. Doctors urge patients to quit smoking Environmentalists urge the government to take immediate action on climate change
motivate	Used when you aim to give someone a reason or incentive to do something, focusing on boosting their internal drive. What motivates you to work hard? The speech was meant to motivate the team before the big game
prompt	Often used when you need to cause someone to take action quickly or remind someone to do something. This word can have both neutral and slightly urgent tones. The teacher prompted the student to answer the question His hunger prompted him to go out and buy some food

Examples of usage

The coach pushed the team to give their best performance.
She pushed him to apply for the job.
The teacher pushed the students to think critically.
The parents pushed their child to pursue their passion.
The manager pushed the employees to meet the deadline.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

physical force

The act of applying force in order to move something away from oneself or from the source of the force.

Synonyms

pressure, propulsion, shove, thrust.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
push	General context where you need to move something or encourage someone to take action. She had to push the door to open it He always pushes himself to achieve his goals
thrust	Contexts involving sudden and forceful movement, can be used both physically and metaphorically. He thrust the spear towards his opponent The company's new policy aims to thrust them forward in the market
shove	Physical contexts where forceful and often rough pushing is involved, generally with a negative connotation. He gave her a gentle shove to get her attention The crowd started to shove each other to get closer to the stage
pressure	Situations involving force or influence to make someone do something, can be both positive and negative. The pressure to perform well at work can be intense Parents sometimes pressure their children to study harder
propulsion	Technical or scientific contexts, typically referring to the action of driving or pushing forward, usually related to transportation. The rocket’s propulsion system is critical for its launch Engineers are working on new methods of propulsion for electric cars

Examples of usage

With a push, he managed to move the heavy box.
The door opened with a gentle push.
A push from behind propelled him forward.
She gave the stubborn drawer a hard push.
The push of the crowd made it hard to move.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'push' comes from the Middle English 'pushten', which means to thrust or shove.
It has roots in the Old French word 'puissier', meaning to push or propel.
In various languages, similar sounding words also mean to push, showing a common action across cultures.

Science

In physics, pushing is a force applied to an object, which can change its movement or shape.
Newton's laws of motion describe how a push can cause an object to accelerate or change direction.
Push forces can be found in natural phenomena like the wind pushing leaves or waves pushing against the shore.

Pop Culture

The idea of 'push' is prominent in motivational speaking, encouraging people to 'push' themselves beyond limits.
In video games, mechanics often involve pushing objects to solve puzzles or navigate through levels.
The phrase 'push the envelope' is commonly used to describe exceeding boundaries or limits in creativity or innovation.

Psychology

In psychology, pushing oneself refers to striving for personal growth and challenging various limits.
Peer pressure can create a social push, where individuals influence each other’s behavior.
The concept of 'push factors' is used in sociology to describe reasons why people leave a place or situation.

Literature

'Push' often symbolizes struggle or force in literature, representing challenges that characters must navigate.
In famous works, such as 'The Little Engine That Could', the theme of pushing through obstacles is a core message.
Authors use the metaphor of pushing to convey characters' emotional burdens or ambitions in narratives.

Translations

Translations of the word "push" in other languages:

🇵🇹 empurrar

🇮🇳 धक्का देना

🇩🇪 drücken

🇮🇩 mendorong

🇺🇦 штовхати

🇵🇱 pchać

🇯🇵 押す (osu)

🇫🇷 pousser

🇪🇸 empujar

🇹🇷 itmek

🇰🇷 밀다 (milda)

🇸🇦 دفع (dafa')

🇨🇿 tlačit

🇸🇰 tlačiť

🇨🇳 推 (tuī)

🇸🇮 potisniti

🇮🇸 ýta

🇰🇿 итеру

🇬🇪 ბიძგება (bidzgeba)

🇦🇿 itələmək

🇲🇽 empujar

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,825, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.

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3822 pray
3823 calm
3824 neglect
3825 push
3826 mix
3827 exemption
3828 dedicated
...