26984 words

pressures

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:

Teachers are under increasing pressure to work longer hours.
[ + to infinitive ] Pressure to abandon the new motorway is increasing.
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:

[ C ] Competitive pressures will force the company to sell off its factories.
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:

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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