English Reference

Word

press

Phoneticspress

US/ˈpɹɛs/

UK/pɹˈɛs/

Definitions

01to push a button

A1 · Beginner Computing

v. to push a button or key to make a machine work.

v. to activate a mechanism by applying downward or forward force to a button, key, or switch.

“You need to press the red button to start the coffee machine.”

“The operator was instructed to press the emergency stop sequence only if the pressure gauge exceeded the safety threshold.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

02to apply physical force

A2 · Elementary

v. to push firmly against something or someone.

v. to exert steady weight or force against a surface or object.

“He pressed his face against the window to see outside better.”

“The crowd pressed against the barriers as the motorcade approached the palace gates.”

Antonyms

03to iron clothes

B1 · Intermediate

v. to make clothes smooth using a hot iron.

v. to remove wrinkles from fabric by applying heat and pressure, typically with an iron.

“I need to press my shirt before the job interview tomorrow.”

“The tailor carefully pressed the seams of the wool jacket to ensure a crisp, professional finish.”

Antonyms

crumplewrinkle

04to urge or insist

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to try hard to persuade someone to do something.

v. to urge, entreat, or insist upon a course of action or a specific demand.

“The reporter continued to press the politician for a clear answer.”

“The board decided not to press the matter further, fearing that legal action would damage the company's reputation.”

Antonyms

05news media

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. newspapers, magazines, and the journalists who write for them.

n. the collective body of journalists and news organisations; print and digital media outlets.

“The story was reported in the local press the following morning.”

“Freedom of the press is considered a fundamental pillar of democratic governance in many nations.”

06a printing machine

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a large machine that prints books, newspapers, or magazines.

n. a mechanical device for printing text or images from type or plates onto paper.

“The newspaper went to press at midnight to be ready for the morning.”

“Modern digital presses have largely replaced the traditional offset machines in small-scale publishing houses.”

Synonyms

printing press

07an act of pushing

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. the act of pushing something once.

n. a single instance of applying pressure or pushing a button.

“With one quick press of the remote, the television turned on.”

“A firm press on the wound helped to stop the bleeding until the paramedics arrived.”

Synonyms

08a storage cupboard

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun British English · Dialect

n. a large cupboard used for storing clothes or linen.

n. a large, usually built-in cupboard or closet for storage.

“She kept the clean towels in the linen press in the hallway.”

“The old farmhouse featured a deep oak press built directly into the thick stone walls of the kitchen.”

09weightlifting exercise

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports

n. an exercise where you push weights away from your body.

n. a weightlifting movement involving the extension of the limbs to move a weight away from the body.

“He added more weight to the bench press during his workout.”

“The athlete struggled with the final repetition of the overhead press during the championship qualifiers.”

Synonyms

bench pressshoulder press

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “press” in context.

Noun

01. university press

“The book was published by a prestigious university press last year.”

noun + noun

Usage

When referring to the media, it is often used with the definite article ('the press') and can take either a singular or plural verb in British English.

Pitfall

The press are very small on this phone.

The buttons are very small on this phone.

Learners sometimes use 'press' to mean the physical buttons themselves, but 'press' refers to the action or the media, not the individual plastic keys.

Word family

NOUN

Press(B1)

ADJECTIVE

Idioms

Domains

ElectronicsGamblingPsychology

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference