# squeezing

/ˈskwizɪŋ/ (US) · /skwˈiːzɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. pressing firmly

verb · CEFR B1

pressing something hard from both sides, often with your hands.

For teachers: the act of applying pressure to an object from opposite sides, typically using the hands or fingers.

- She was squeezing a stress ball while she waited for her interview.
- The physical therapist demonstrated the correct technique for squeezing the resistance tool to rebuild grip strength after the injury.

### 2. extracting liquid

verb · CEFR B1

pressing a fruit or vegetable to get the juice out.

For teachers: extracting juice or liquid from a substance by applying compressive force.

- Squeezing a fresh lemon over the fish makes it taste much better.
- The recipe calls for squeezing the excess moisture from the grated zucchini before adding it to the batter to prevent sogginess.

### 3. fitting into a small space

verb · CEFR B2

trying to fit into a space that is almost too small.

For teachers: forcing oneself or an object into a confined space or through a narrow opening.

- We were squeezing five people into the back of a very small car.
- The commuters were squeezing themselves into the already crowded train carriage, desperate to make the final departure of the evening.

### 4. the act of pressing

noun · CEFR B2

an instance of pressing something firmly.

For teachers: a single instance or the continuous action of applying compression.

- Give the bottle a gentle squeezing to see if there is any soap left.
- The constant squeezing of the rubber tubing eventually caused a small fissure to develop in the material.

## Examples

- She is squeezing fresh lemons for the juice.
- By squeezing all his clothes into one small suitcase, he managed to avoid paying for extra luggage.
- The artisan spent the afternoon squeezing excess water from the clay, ensuring the material reached the perfect consistency for the pottery wheel.

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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.