pressure

UK: /ˈprɛʃə^r/ US: /ˈprɛʃɚ/ ,(presh′ər)

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

pressures

v 3rd person singular

pressuring

v pres p

pressured

v past

pressured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pres•sure /ˈprɛʃɚ/   n., v., -sured, -sur•ing. 
n. 

1. the action of force upon a surface by an object, fluid, etc., in contact with it:
   [uncountable] air pressure.
2. Physics the strength or amount of this force:
   [countable] At high pressures the wings could fall off.
3. stress;
   a feeling or feelings of harassment:
   [countable] the pressures of daily life.
   [uncountable] Kids have enough pressure in their lives.
4. a force or influence that causes some action:
   [countable] Social pressures from their peers might prevent kids from drinking or using drugs.
   [uncountable] tried to bring pressure on his subordinates to finish on time.
5. urgency, as that induced by deadlines at school or work:
   [uncountable] works well under pressure.
6. Meteorology the force of the air:
   [uncountable] a region of high pressure.

v. 

7. to force (someone) to do a particular thing or action;
   coerce: [~ + object (+ into + object)]
   She pressured him into it.
   [~ + object + to + verb]
   I think they pressured him to accept that job.

See -press-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pres•sure  (presh′ər), n., v., -sured, -sur•ing. 
n. 

1. the exertion of force upon a surface by an object, fluid, etc., in contact with it:
   the pressure of earth against a wall.
2. Physics force per unit area. Symbol: P Cf. stress (def. 6).
3. Meteorology See atmospheric pressure. 
4. Electricity See electromotive force. 
5. the state of being pressed or compressed.
6. harassment;
   oppression:
   the pressures of daily life.
7. a constraining or compelling force or influence:
   the social pressures of city life; financial pressure.
8. urgency, as of affairs or business:
   He works well under pressure.
9. [Obs.] that which is impressed.

v.t. 

10. to force (someone) toward a particular end;
    influence:
    They pressured him into accepting the contract.
11. pressurize.

• Latin pressūra. See press¹, -ure
• Middle English (noun, nominal) 1350–1400

pres′sure•less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pressure / ˈprɛʃə/ noun

1. the state of pressing or being pressed
2. the exertion of force by one body on the surface of another
3. a moral force that compels: to bring pressure to bear
4. an urgent claim or demand or series of urgent claims or demands: to work under pressure
5. a burdensome condition that is hard to bear: the pressure of grief
6. the normal force applied to a unit area of a surface, usually measured in pascals (newtons per square metre), millibars, torr, or atmospheres
7. short for atmospheric pressure, blood pressure

verb

1. (transitive) to constrain or compel, as by the application of moral force
2. another word for pressurize

Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin pressūra a pressing, from Latin premere to press