1
2
as in throng
a great number of persons or creatures massed together
he pushed his way through the press of people outside the courthouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in cabinet
a storage case typically having doors and shelves
originally designed as a press for clothes, it now serves to hide the bedroom TV
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
the fleeing bank robber pressed a nearby taxi into service as a getaway car
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to shove
to push steadily against with some force
an old doorbell that requires you to press the button hard
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in to huddle
to gather into a closely packed group
everyone pressed around me to see the pictures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to force
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
a manager pressed by a business crisis to return from his vacation ahead of schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to urge
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
pressed us to go with them to the school board meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
an office e-mail that presses the need for greater vigilance concerning building security
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of press
Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Thus ensnared in a fiction of his making, the narrator takes his phone out and pretends to press Record.
—Giles Harvey, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Wassan Al-Khudhairi, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
Your 12th House of Solitude and your 9th House of Curiosity are in conflict under today’s Moon-Jupiter square, potentially pressing pause on upcoming plans.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for press
Noun
On Translation Ashley Nelson Levy, author of The Riff, talks to Meara Sharma about female friendship and running a small press.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Thus ensnared in a fiction of his making, the narrator takes his phone out and pretends to press Record.
—Giles Harvey, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
Standing knee-deep in the lo‘i, covered in mud, gently pressing roots into the earth, anchored me in a new way.
—Wassan Al-Khudhairi, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
Your 12th House of Solitude and your 9th House of Curiosity are in conflict under today’s Moon-Jupiter square, potentially pressing pause on upcoming plans.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for press
Recent Examples of Synonyms for press
Noun
-
Food pantries rarely offer mobile options, and SNAP cannot be used for home deliveries.—
Beth Shapiro,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
During the tail end of the pandemic, those mandates helped keep food banks and food pantries stocked with product – everything from fresh veggies to proteins to dairy.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As the minutes passed and the throng thickened, a police officer had to repeatedly remind people not to block the crosswalk.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Vast plazas are missing the typical throngs of faithful and tourists.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The receptionist works behind a period cabinet converted into the sort of desk Philip Marlowe would happily put his feet on and Art Deco ornamentations abound, from the beautiful clocks, to the slightly sinister candlesticks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Guitar and bass players can plug in and choose from 25 instrument-specific amps and cabinets with several microphones, along with 35 separate stompboxes and a handy tuner.—
Jamie Lendino,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the Leafs aren’t rebuilding, yet, and years of trading away picks have left the cupboard relatively bare.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The trailer starts out by showing Harry living in his cupboard room under the stairs at the Dursleys’ home.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On the night of Cabo Verde’s qualifying victory, Moreira recalled, players celebrated on a beach with crowds of fans.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Monday’s start represented the largest home crowd (36,702) that Cabrera has ever pitched in front of in his career.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The coach often looks at those basketball stickers affixed over a block M at each player's locker.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Beyond the main performance stages, the center’s instructional spaces are tailored for drama studies as well as choral, band and orchestra programs, with soundproof practice rooms and breakout rooms featuring acoustic paneling, as well as instrument lockers.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The primary suite is described as storage-rich and spa-like, with multiple closets and a bath built for lingering.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Soft, adjustable lighting, outdoor rain showers with peepholes framing the scenery, incredibly comfy poolside daybeds, super-crisp sheets, open-plan bathrooms with capacious closets—everything works, but nothing feels forced or superfluous.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In effect, this would see Japan sending swarms of cheap drones first during a strike.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In March, the company said its Bahraini data center had been damaged after Iran sent swarms of drones in the region.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Press.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/press. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
