Pressure

/ˈprɛʃər/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.

The pressure of the water caused the dam to crack.

The use of persuasion or intimidation to make someone do something.

He felt a lot of pressure from his peers to conform.

The feeling of stress or tension caused by demanding circumstances.

She works well under pressure, often meeting tight deadlines.

verb

To attempt to persuade or coerce someone into doing something.

The manager pressured the team to increase their sales.

To exert force upon an object.

He pressed the button with pressure to start the machine.

From Middle English, from Old French pression, from Latin pressio.

blood pressure

The pressure exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.

peer pressure

The influence that a group exerts on its members to behave in ways that conform to group norms.

pressure cooker

A sealed pot that cooks food more quickly than conventional cooking methods due to increased pressure.

compress

To flatten or reduce in size by applying pressure.

inflate

To fill something with air or gas to increase pressure.

stress

A state of mental or emotional strain or tension.

To put the squeeze on someone.

He was really trying to pressure me into making a decision.

Pressure to conform to social norms.

There’s a lot of pressure these days to look a certain way.