From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpushpush1 /pʊʃ/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 move [intransitive, transitive]PUSH to make someone or something move by pressing them with your hands, arms etc OPP pull It didn’t move, so she pushed harder. I promised to push him on the swings for as long as he wanted. shoppers pushing their grocery cartspush somebody/something away/back/aside etc She pushed him away. Maria pushed her hair back from her forehead.push somebody/something towards/into etc something Philip pushed him towards the door.push something open/shut I slowly pushed the door open.2 button/switch [intransitive, transitive]SWITCH ON OR OFF to press a button, switch etc in order to make a piece of equipment start or stop working SYN press I got in and pushed the button for the fourth floor. Push the green button to start the engine.3 try to get past [intransitive]PUSH to use your hands, arms etc to make people or things move, so that you can get past them Don’t push. Everyone will get a turn.push (your way) past/through/into etc A fat man pushed past me in his rush to leave. She pushed her way to the front.4 encourage [transitive]FORCE somebody TO DO something to encourage or force someone to do something or to work hard Encourage your kids to try new things, but try not to push them too hard. athletes who push their bodies to the limitpush yourself He’s been pushing himself too hard, working 12-hour days.push somebody into (doing) something My husband pushed me into leaving the job.push somebody to do something The teachers pushed the students to achieve.5 persuade [intransitive, transitive] to try to persuade people to accept your ideas, opinions etc in order to achieve something The president is trying to push his agenda in Congress.push for He was pushing hard for welfare reform.push to do something Company representatives are pushing to open foreign markets to their products.push something on somebody We don’t try to push our religion on anyone. 6 change [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to change someone’s situation, or to make a situation change, especially when some people do not want it to change The law would push even more children into poverty. attempts to push the peace process forward7 increase/decrease [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to increase or decrease an amount, value, or numberpush something up/down Slow sales have pushed down orders.push something higher/lower New technology has pushed the cost of health care even higher.8 army [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if an army pushes somewhere, it moves in that direction The army was pushing north. We pushed deep into enemy territory.9 advertise [transitive] informalBBAADVERTISE to try to sell more of a product by advertising it a lot Sports stars earn big bucks for pushing everything from shoes to soft drinks.10 drugs [transitive] informalMDD to sell illegal drugs → pusher11 → be pushing 40/50 etc12 → push your luck/push it13 → push something out of your mind14 → push (somebody’s) buttons15 → push the boat out16 → push the point17 → push the envelope18 → be pushing up (the) daisies19 technical [transitive] to automatically send your email to your smartphone, so that you receive it immediately → pushed, pushingTHESAURUSpush to make something or someone move by pressing them with your hands, arms etcPush the door, don’t pull it.She pushed him away and walked out.shove to push someone or something in a rough or careless wayPeople were shoving to get to the front of the queue.Tom shoved his suitcase under the bed.stuff informal to push something quickly and carelessly into a small spaceShe stuffed a few clothes into a bag and left.poke to push someone or something with your finger or something sharpI poked the snake with a stick but it was dead.nudge to push someone beside you gently with your elbow to get their attentionToby nudged me and pointed out of the window.roll to push something round or something on wheels so that it moves forwardThey rolled the logs down the hill.The car still didn’t start so we tried to roll it off the road.wheel to push something with wheels, for example a bicycle or a trolley, so that it moves forward, while guiding it with your handsRob wheeled his bike round the back of the house. → push ahead → push along → push somebody around → push somebody/something aside → push yourself forward → push in → push off → push on → push somebody/something ↔ over → push something ↔ through→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
push• Can you tell the people at the back of the queue to stop pushing!• Paul held the door open for a woman pushing a trolley of heavy books.• His back was pushed against the wall as a youth set about him.• The Woman pushed at the door, behind Doyle's chair, and when he moved sideways she stepped in.• She raised her eyes heavenwards and pushed by him.• It's still stuck - you'll have to push harder.• I got tired of Robin pushing her environmental agenda at the office.• Anyone caught pushing heroin or cocaine is given a long prison sentence.• Mallachy, indeed, was inclined to push his luck with Rory.• Pushing his plate to one side he called for the waiter.• Coach Koepple pushes his players pretty hard.• He pushed his way through the crowd.• The car had run out of gas so they pushed it into a side-street.• Revlon is really pushing its new range of beauty creams.• "Who was at the door?" "It was some guy pushing magazine subscriptions."• My parents keep pushing me to get a good job.• Mum, William pushed me!• She pushed open the door to the sitting-room.• She pushed past me to the front of the line.• Cursing, he began cutting it up, pushing the shorter strands on to his spoon.• She pushed the table into a corner of the classroom.• She was part of the first generation that really pushed the whole idea of reconciliation.• Shoppers were pushing their carts around the supermarket.• There's no need to push. There are enough tickets for everyone.• Animal-rights groups are pushing to ban the capture of dolphins.• Don't let them push you into a making a decision before you're ready.• Are you sure you want to marry me? I don't want to push you into anything.push (your way) past/through/into etc• United manager Keegan could push through a £750,000 deal for 22-year-old Hignett after the visit of Watford.• Then, with a sound of disgust, Feargal pushed past her and went into the house.• Students should also be pushed through more quickly.• The first I heard of my part in Talking Heads was when the script was pushed through my letterbox.• The Government has already appointed a legal team in an effort to push through the building proposals.• It was his energy and determination which had pushed through the previous two projects despite the problems and the risks.• But his single-minded determination to push through the single currency against rising opposition is producing precisely the opposite effect.• They run upstairs and push past the uniformed policeman guarding the door of the apartment.push ... hard• Clench the jaws, as if chewing hard, while pushing your tongue hard against the roof of your mouth.• I could be pushing people too hard and they could be planning to walk out the door.• Thinking his number was up, Peter pushed down hard and went underneath the glider.• Still, it comes at a time when gays and lesbians are pushing hard for the right to wed.• Big agricultural businesses, primarily in California, pushed hard for the temporary workers.• With Republicans controlling the House of Representatives by only a few seats, both sides have pushed hard for their preferred figures.• They responded by pushing hard into corporate finance, seeking to use shareholdings as a door-opener.• And with the treble boost you can push it hard, smoothly into distortion. pushing hard• Meanwhile, though, Titan is pushing hard for a commercial stronghold.• Still, it comes at a time when gays and lesbians are pushing hard for the right to wed.• They responded by pushing hard into corporate finance, seeking to use shareholdings as a door-opener.• During that time he has been pushing hard to make up any lost ground.pushpush2 ●●○ noun 1 pushing movement [countable]PUSH when someone pushes something OPP pull Jodi had stopped swinging. ‘Want a push?’ her dad asked. If the door’s stuck, just give it a push.at/with the push of a button (=used to emphasize how easy a machine is to use) Files can be attached to your email at the push of a button.2 effort [countable] when someone, especially a business, tries to get or achieve something the pre-Christmas advertising pushpush into The company has recently made a big push into the Japanese market.push for the push for improved productivitypush to do something a push to attract new members3 encouragement [singular]PERSUADE if someone gives someone else a push, they encourage or persuade them to try something She just needed a gentle push to get her to join in.4 army [countable]PM a planned military movement into the area where the enemy ispush into The army has made another big push into enemy territory.5 → give somebody the push/get the push6 → when/if push comes to shove7 → at a push8 → it’ll be a pushExamples from the Corpus
push• In a push to capture more of the market, Conoco will start selling propane.• The President has renewed a push to get the hostages freed.• And the Democrats in Congress have bedeviled Dole with a push for a raise in the minimum wage.• Rebel forces are believed to be preparing a final push into the city.• For now the railway operates a short push and pull service between Furnace Sidings and the Whistle Inn.• When push came to shove, the Northern California hospitality came through.give ... push• Instead of jerking on the lead, he gave a mighty push to the bear's head and the man-animal rolled over backwards.• Just as he reached the top step I gave him a push - not a hard push, just defensive.• Some kids gave two pushes, some five, building up.• Will your lads give me a push?• As he cut she gave an almighty push and ripped open to her behind.• Bigger capacity engines produce more torque as more fuel is burnt per firing stroke, giving a bigger push to the piston.• St Ives said it was a mercy he hadn't after all approached Meredith and asked him to give her the push.• It would give them the push they needed to come out into the open.made ... push• The tears have been made by pushing a blade of some scissors through the fabric, and then cutting.• Women of that age, she'd read somewhere, often made a push for one final fling.• The sound of the door being opened made her instinctively push the child aside from her.• Fingers that longed to cling curled into her fists as she made to push herself away.• Attempts were made to push out the burning fuel with scaffolding poles. From Longman Business Dictionarypushpush1 /pʊʃ/ verb [transitive]1to work hard to persuade people to buy more of a product, for example by advertising it a lotOur sales staff will be pushing the new model hard.IBM will use its huge sales force to push this product.2to try to get people to accept an idea, proposal etcManufacturing groups are pushing a federal products liability law to limit punitive damages. → push ahead → push somebody for something → push something → down → push something → through → push something → up→ See Verb tablepushpush2 noun [singular]1a period of determined effort in business, especially one in which you gain an advantage over your opponentspush intoThe company recently made a big push into the Japanese market.a sales push2give somebody the push British English informal to make someone leave their job, especially because they have done something wrongSo they gave you the push, did they? You’re so lazy, I’m not surprised!pushpush3 adjective [only before a noun] COMPUTING on the Internet, push systems deliver information, advertising etc to your computer without you having to ask for it to be DOWNLOADEDpush technologiesOrigin push1 (1300-1400) Old French poulser “to hit, push”, from Latin pulsare, from pellere “to drive, hit” 