26984 words

pressure

15 definitions • 30 examples
1
the force you produce when you press something:

Examples:

He put too much pressure on the door handle and it snapped.
You can stop bleeding by applying pressure close to the injured area.
2
the force that a liquid or gas produces when it presses against an area:

Examples:

gas/water pressure
The new material allows the company to make gas pipes which withstand higher pressures.
The gas is stored under pressure (= in a container which keeps it at a higher pressure than it would usually have).
3
the act of trying to make someone else do something by arguing, persuading, etc.:

Examples:

public/political pressure
Teachers are under increasing pressure to work longer hours.
[ + to infinitive ] Pressure to abandon the new motorway is increasing.
The government is facing pressure from environmental activists.
The Defence Secretary resigned under pressure from the Prime Minister (= because the Prime Ministerforced him to).
She's putting pressure on him (= trying to persuade him) to get married.
formal The international community is trying to bring pressure to bear on the government (= trying to persuade them) to resolve the situation.
4
a difficult situation that makes you feel worried or unhappy:

Examples:

She's got a lot of pressure on her at work just now.
Be nice to him - he's been under a lot of pressure recently.
Can you work well under pressure?
the pressures of work
5
something that you say when what someone has just said makes you feel that you must try very hard to do something:

Examples:

"These exams are the most important of all." "Oh, so no pressure then!"
6
a situation in a football game in which attacking players are moving forward and getting closer to scoring a goal, and players from the opposing team have to work hard to stop them from scoring:

Examples:

Ryan Giggs put the home defence under pressure.
Playing four forwards puts too much pressure on the defence.
7
to strongly persuade someone to do something they do not want to do:

Examples:

She was pressured into joining the club.
8
the force produced by pressing against something:

Examples:

[ U ] air/blood/water pressure
9
Pressure is also the force that is put on a surface with reference to the area of the surface.
10

Examples:

11
If you put pressure on someone, you try to cause that person to do something by persuading or threatening them:

Examples:

[ U ] They put a lot of pressure on him to resign.
12
worry and fear caused by the feeling that you have too many responsibilities and cares:

Examples:

I like this job – there’s not so much pressure to produce every day.
13
a situation in which someone tries to make someone else do something by arguing, persuading, etc.:

Examples:

public/political pressure
The guidelines were imposed under pressure from Congress.
14
a difficult situation, or the worried feeling that such a situation can give you:

Examples:

pressure on sb She's got a lot of pressure on her at work just now.
He doesn't work well under pressure.
The pressures of work are making her depressed.
15
to put someone or something in a difficult situation, or to try and persuade or force someone to do something:

Examples:

Analysts said the lack of supply would undoubtedly put pressure on prices.

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