ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pressured

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɹɛʃɝd// UK //pɹˈɛʃəd// pres·sured

adj. feeling like you must do something because of stress or because other people are pushing you. You feel this when you have too much work or a difficult choice to make.

adj. experiencing a strong sense of urgency or coercion to perform a task or make a decision. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'feel' or 'seem'.


SIMPLE

I feel pressured to finish the report by tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

The sales team felt pressured to meet their monthly targets despite the slowing economy.

COMPLEX

Young professionals often feel pressured to maintain a constant digital presence, fearing that any period of inactivity might result in missed career opportunities.

Synonyms
Usage

Typically follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'look', or 'seem'; when used before a noun, it describes a situation or environment filled with stress.

Pitfall

I am very pressure at work.I am very pressured at work.Learners often use the noun 'pressure' instead of the participial adjective 'pressured' to describe their emotional state.

© 2026 English Reference