(~es, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
When you ~ something, you use force to make it move away from you or away from its previous position.
The woman ~ed back her chair and stood up...
They ~ed him into the car.
...a woman ~ing a ~chair...
He put both hands flat on the door and ~ed as hard as he could...
When there was no reply, he ~ed the door open.
VERB: V n with adv, V n prep, V n, V, V n adj
•
Push is also a noun.
He gave me a sharp ~...
Information is called up at the ~ of a button.
N-COUNT: usu sing
2.
If you ~ through things that are blocking your way or ~ your way through them, you use force in order to move past them.
I ~ed through the crowds and on to the escalator...
He ~ed his way towards her, laughing.
VERB: V prep/adv, V way prep/adv
3.
If an army ~es into a country or area that it is attacking or invading, it moves further into it.
One detachment ~ed into the eastern suburbs towards the airfield...
The army may ~ southwards into the Kurdish areas.
= advance
VERB: V into n, V adv into n
•
Push is also a noun.
All that was needed was one final ~, and the enemy would be vanquished once and for all.
N-COUNT: usu sing
4.
To ~ a value or amount up or down means to cause it to increase or decrease.
Any shortage could ~ up grain prices...
Interest had ~ed the loan up to $27,000.
VERB: V n with adv, V n prep
5.
If someone or something ~es an idea or project in a particular direction, they cause it to develop or progress in a particular way.
We are continuing to ~ the business forward...
The government seemed intent on ~ing local and central government in opposite directions.
VERB: V n with adv, V n prep
6.
If you ~ someone to do something or ~ them into doing it, you encourage or force them to do it.
She thanks her parents for keeping her in school and ~ing her to study...
James did not ~ her into stealing the money...
I knew he was ~ing himself to the limit and felt rather anxious...
There is no point in ~ing them unless they are talented and they enjoy it.
VERB: V n to-inf, V n into -ing, V n prep/adv, V n
•
Push is also a noun.
We need a ~ to take the first step.
N-COUNT: usu sing
7.
If you ~ for something, you try very hard to achieve it or to persuade someone to do it.
Britain’s health experts are ~ing for a ban on all cigarette advertising...
Germany is ~ing for direct flights to be established.
VERB: V for n, V for n to-inf
•
Push is also a noun.
In its ~ for economic growth it has ignored projects that would improve living standards...
N-COUNT: usu sing
8.
If someone ~es an idea, a point, or a product, they try in a forceful way to convince people to accept it or buy it.
Ministers will ~ the case for opening the plant...
VERB: V n
9.
When someone ~es drugs, they sell them illegally. (INFORMAL)
She was sent for trial yesterday accused of ~ing drugs.
= deal
VERB: V n
10.
see also ~ed , ~ing
11.
If you get the ~ or are given the ~, you are told that you are not wanted any more, either in your job or by someone you are having a relationship with. (BRIT INFORMAL)
Two cabinet ministers also got the ~.
PHRASE: V inflects
12.
to ~ the boat out: see boat
to ~ your luck: see luck
if ~ comes to shove: see shove