# press

/ˈpɹɛs/ (US) · /pɹˈɛs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/press
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to push a button

verb · CEFR A1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. to apply physical force

verb · CEFR A2

to push firmly against something or someone.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to iron clothes

verb · CEFR B1

to make clothes smooth using a hot iron.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to urge or insist

verb · CEFR B2

to try hard to persuade someone to do something.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. news media

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. a printing machine

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 7. an act of pushing

noun · CEFR A2

the act of pushing something once.

For teachers: 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.

### 8. a storage cupboard

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

a large cupboard used for storing clothes or linen.

For teachers: 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.

### 9. weightlifting exercise

noun · CEFR B2

an exercise where you push weights away from your body.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The press is waiting outside the building for a statement.
- The politician refused to answer questions from the press during the short walk to his car.
- Freedom of the press is considered a fundamental pillar of democratic societies, ensuring that those in power remain accountable to the public through independent investigative reporting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.