thrust

UK: /ˈθrʌst/ US: /θrʌst/ ,(thrust)

Inflections of 'thrust' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

thrusts

v 3rd person singular

thrusting

v pres p

thrust

v past

thrust

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

thrust /θrʌst/   v. 

1. to push forcefully;
   shove: [~ + object]
   He thrust his way through the crowd.
   [no object]
   She thrust through the crowd until she was next to him.
2. to force acceptance of:
   [~ + object] He kept thrusting himself into the conversation.

n. 

3. [countable] an act or instance of thrusting;
   a lunge or stab, as with a sword.
4. Mechanics a force produced by a propeller, etc., to propel a missile, ship, etc.:
   [uncountable] The ice-coated engine failed to develop enough thrust.
5. the main point:
   [countable* usually singular] the thrust of his argument.
6. Military [countable] a military attack or assault;
   an offensive.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

thrust (thrust),  v., thrust, thrust•ing, n. 

v.t. 

1. to push forcibly;
   shove;
   put or drive with force:
   He thrust his way through the crowd. She thrust a dagger into his back.
2. to put boldly forth or impose acceptance of:
   to thrust oneself into a conversation between others; to thrust a dollar into the waiter's hand.
3. to extend;
   present:
   He thrust his fist in front of my face.
4. [Archaic.] to stab or pierce, as with a sword:
   She thrust his back with a dagger.

v.i. 

5. to push against something.
6. to push or force one's way, as against obstacles or through a crowd.
7. to make a thrust, lunge, or stab at something.

n. 

8. an act or instance of thrusting;
   a forcible push or shove;
   lunge or stab.
9. a lunge or stab, as with a sword.
10. Mechanics a linear reactive force exerted by a propeller, propulsive gases, etc., to propel a ship, aircraft, etc.
11. Geology a compressive strain in the crust of the earth that, in its most characteristic development, produces reverse or thrust faults.
12. the main point, purpose, or essence:
    The thrust of his speech was an urgent appeal for votes.
13. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] a pushing force or pressure exerted by a thing or a part against a contiguous one.
14. Architecture the downward and outward force exerted by an arch on each side.
15. an organized military attack;
    assault;
    offensive.

• Old Norse thrȳsta to thrust, force, press
• Middle English thrusten, thrysten (verb, verbal) 1125–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

thrust / θrʌst/ verb (thrusts, thrusting, thrust)

1. (transitive) to push (someone or something) with force or sudden strength: she thrust him away, she thrust it into the fire
2. (transitive) to force or impose upon (someone) or into (some condition or situation): they thrust extra responsibilities upon her, she was thrust into the limelight
3. (transitive) followed by through: to pierce; stab
4. (intr; usually followed by through or into) to force a passage or entrance
5. (intransitive) followed by at: to make a stab or lunge at (a person or thing)

noun

1. a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge
2. a force, esp one that produces motion
3. a propulsive force produced by the fluid pressure or the change of momentum of the fluid in a jet engine, rocket engine, etc
4. a similar force produced by a propeller
5. a pressure that is exerted continuously by one part of an object, structure, etc, against another, esp the axial force by or on a shaft
6. 
   See thrust fault
7. force, impetus, or drive
8. the essential or most forceful part: the thrust of the argument

Etymology: 12th Century: from Old Norse thrysta; related to Latin trūdere; see intrude