ENGLISH
REFERENCE

push

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈpʊʃ// UK //pˈʊʃ// push Archaic Dialect General-service Informal Slang

n. a physical act of using your hands or body to move something away from you. It can also mean a strong effort to finish a task or reach a goal.

n. the act of exerting force upon an object to move it away from the source of the pressure. Often used figuratively to describe a determined effort or a strategic advance toward a specific objective.


SIMPLE

Give the door a hard push to open it.

CONTEXTUAL

The marketing team is making a final push to increase sales before the end of the year.

COMPLEX

The infantry's coordinated push across the valley was met with stiff resistance, forcing the commanding officers to reconsider their tactical approach to the ridge.

Synonyms
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Etymology 1

From Middle English pushen, poshen, posson, borrowed from Middle French pousser (Modern French pousser) from Old French poulser, from Latin pulsare (“to beat, strike”), frequentative of pellere (past participle pulsus). Doublet of pulsate and pulse (verb). Partly displaced native Old English sċūfan, whence Modern English shove.

Etymology 2

Probably French poche. See pouch.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'give something a push' or 'make a push for'.

Idioms11 entries

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