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Definition of “pushing”

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Word Frequency

Word Frequency of pushing

pushing (ˈpʊʃɪŋ Pronunciation for pushing ) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. enterprising, resourceful, or aggressively ambitious
  2. impertinently self-assertive

adverb

  1. almost or nearly (a certain age, speed, etc) ⇒ pushing fifty

Derived Forms

ˈpushingly adverb
ˈpushingness noun

push (pʊʃ Pronunciation for push ) 

Definitions

verb

  1. when tr, often foll by off, away, etc to apply steady force to (something) in order to move it
  2. to thrust (one's way) through something, such as a crowd, by force
  3. when intr,often foll by for to apply oneself vigorously (to achieving a task, plan, etc)
  4. tr to encourage or urge (a person) to some action, decision, etc
  5. when intr,often foll by for to be an advocate or promoter (of) ⇒ to push for acceptance of one's theories
  6. tr to use one's influence to help (a person) ⇒ to push one's own candidate
  7. to bear upon (oneself or another person) in order to achieve more effort, better results, etc ⇒ she was a woman who liked to push her husband
    1. tr to take undue risks, esp through overconfidence, thus risking failure ⇒ to push one's luck
    2. intr to act overconfidently
  9. (sport) to hit (a ball) with a stiff pushing stroke
  10. tr (informal) to sell (narcotic drugs) illegally
  11. intr; foll by out, into, etc (esp of geographical features) to reach or extend ⇒ the cliffs pushed out to the sea
  12. tr to overdevelop (a photographic film), usually by the equivalent of up to two stops, to compensate for underexposure or increase contrast

  13. See push up daisies

noun

  1. the act of pushing; thrust
  2. a part or device that is pressed to operate some mechanism
  3. (informal) ambitious or enterprising drive, energy, etc
  4. (informal) a special effort or attempt to advance, as of an army in a war ⇒ to make a push
  5. (informal) a number of people gathered in one place, such as at a party
  6. (Australian, slang) a group or gang, esp one considered to be a clique
  7. (sport) a stiff pushing stroke

  8. See at a push

  9. See the push

  10. See when push comes to shove

See also

push about, push along, push in, push off, push on, push through

Word Origin

C13: from Old French pousser, from Latin pulsāre, from pellere to drive

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= shove, force, press, thrust, drive, knock, sweep, plunge, elbow, bump, ram, poke, propel, nudge, prod, jostle, hustle, bulldoze, impel, manhandle,
= press, operate, depress, squeeze, activate, hold down
= make or force your way, move, shoulder, inch, squeeze, thrust, elbow, shove, jostle, work your way, thread your way
= advance, progress, proceed, go on, go ahead, go forward, press on, make inroads, move onward
= urge, encourage, persuade, spur, drive, press, influence, prod, constrain, incite, coerce, egg on, impel, browbeat, exert influence on, inspan,
= promote, advertise, hype, publicize, boost, plug, puff, make known, propagandize, cry up
= sell, supply, deal in, peddle, traffic in
= shove, thrust, butt, elbow, poke, nudge, prod, jolt,
= effort, charge, attack, campaign, advance, assault, raid, offensive, sally, thrust, blitz, onset
= drive, go, energy, initiative, enterprise, ambition, determination, pep, vitality, vigour, dynamism, welly, get-up-and-go, gumption

Example Sentences Including 'pushing'

A hissing noise of escaping gas from the ruptured mains suddenly thumped into flame and burst across the street, pushing the firemen back.
Robert Wilson THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
A jump in oil prices to recent six-month highs near $25 per barrel outweighed the retreat in food prices, pushing overall inflation higher.
Irish Times (2002)
A young man, head down, was pushing his bicycle up the hill from the lagoon.
Robert Wilson INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS (2002)
He is fond of sport and plays it by pushing the buttons on his television remote control.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
I'd like to think of myself as being a modern sort of coach, and I'll be pushing the boundaries.
Irish Times (2002)
If I have to change then the chance of breaking record will diminish... so pushing to the limit!
Yachting Boating World (2004)
R'shiel walked toward him, pushing the monsters out of her way impatiently.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
There are no men to look at, not even a stooped old gardener pushing a barrow.
Tracy Chevalier THE LADY AND THE UNICORN (2003)
We are very conscious that we have got to start pushing back.
Glasgow Herald (2001)

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