# pushing

/ˈpʊʃɪŋ/ (US) · /pˈʊʃɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pushing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. determined or aggressive

adjective · CEFR B2

being very determined to succeed, sometimes in a way that annoys other people.

For teachers: characterised by aggressive ambition or an assertive, sometimes intrusive, desire to succeed.

- The pushing salesman wouldn't let me leave the shop without buying something.
- Her pushing nature helped her climb the corporate ladder quickly, though it occasionally alienated her more reserved colleagues.

### 3. the act of a push

noun · CEFR B1

the physical act of moving something by pressing against it.

For teachers: the action of exerting pressure or force against an object to move it.

- With a final pushing of the door, they managed to get inside the old house.
- The constant pushing and shoving in the crowd made it difficult for the security guards to maintain order near the stage.

### 4. approaching an age

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

getting close to a certain age, usually an older one.

For teachers: approaching a specific age or numerical limit; used in the progressive form.

- My uncle is pushing seventy, but he still goes for a run every morning.
- Although he is pushing eighty, the professor maintains a rigorous research schedule and lectures at several international conferences annually.

## Examples

- The heavy door requires a strong pushing motion to open.
- After months of pushing from the local community, the city finally agreed to build a new park.
- The constant pushing for higher productivity eventually led to a significant decline in employee morale and a rise in burnout across the department.

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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.