push
gb/pˈʊʃ/ us/pˈʊʃ/
A1
English
~ 1100
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A1
action
1
Move something away with force
To use your hands or body to make something move away from you.
Usage pattern:
to push [something/someone] [direction/place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'push' with 'pull', which is the opposite action.
Synonyms
shove (Implies a rougher or more sudden push)
Antonyms
pull (Means to move something toward oneself instead of away)
Collocations
push a door
|push a cart
|push someone
|push forward
|push hard
Themes
daily life
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She pushed the door open with her shoulder.
- I had to push the heavy table across the room.
- The crowd began to push toward the stage.
- He pushed the box into the corner.
- They pushed the car to the side of the road.
Learner examples
- I pushed the door.
- She pushed the chair.
- We pushed the table.
- He pushed the car.
- They pushed the box.
Verb
B1
action
2
Urge someone to act
To try hard to make someone do something.
Usage pattern:
to push [someone] to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical pushing; context usually clarifies it.
Synonyms
urge (Softer and more emotional encouragement)
Antonyms
discourage (Means to make someone less willing to do something)
Collocations
push someone hard
|push for change
|push students
|push him to succeed
Themes
communication
|motivation
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The coach pushed the team to train harder.
- She pushed her son to apply for the scholarship.
- They are pushing employees to work longer hours.
- He pushed me to take the job offer.
Learner examples
- My teacher pushed me to study.
- She pushes her children to read.
- He pushed me to join the club.
- They push us to work hard.
Verb
B1
action
3
Promote or advertise actively
To try to make people buy or accept something.
Usage pattern:
to push [a product/service/idea]
Synonyms
promote (More formal and general term for encouraging interest)
Antonyms
ignore (To pay no attention or give no promotion)
Collocations
push a product
|push a brand
|push an agenda
Themes
business
|marketing
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company is pushing its new smartphone model this month.
- Politicians often push their own agendas.
- Salespeople were pushing credit cards at the event.
Learner examples
- The shop pushes new toys.
- They push this phone on TV.
- He pushes his ideas at meetings.
Noun
A2
event
4
An act of moving something away
The act of making something move away by using your hands or body.
Synonyms
shove (Implies a rougher or more sudden movement)
Antonyms
pull (The opposite action of moving toward oneself)
Collocations
give a push
|gentle push
|hard push
Themes
daily life
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Give the door a push and it will open.
- It took a big push to start the car moving.
- With one final push, they got the piano inside.
Learner examples
- I gave the door a push.
- He gave me a push.
- We gave the car a push.
Verb
B2
action
5
Keep going despite obstacles
To keep going and trying even when it is hard.
Usage pattern:
to push through [difficulty/obstacle]
Synonyms
persevere (More formal and focused on persistence)
Antonyms
give up (To stop trying because it is too hard)
Collocations
push through pain
|push ahead with plans
Themes
motivation
|personal development
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She pushed through her fatigue to finish the race.
- They are pushing ahead with the project despite budget cuts.
- He pushed on, even though it was raining heavily.
Learner examples
- I pushed through my homework.
- She pushes on when she is tired.
- They push ahead with work.
Grammar
Dictionary form
push
IPA
GB/pˈʊʃ/
US/pˈʊʃ/
Syllables & stress
push (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (push)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: push
- Plural: push, pushes
Verb
- Base: push
- 3rd Person Singular: pushes
- Present Participle: pushing
- Past: pushed
Word family
Forms
pushes
noun
pushing
verb
pushed
verb
Related words
pushy
adjective
pusher
noun
Negative and opposite forms
pull
verb A1
Advanced or less common
pushiness
noun
Expressions
come to shove (when push comes to shove)
1/kˈʌm tə ʃˈʌv wˈɛn pˈʊʃ kˈʌmz tə ʃˈʌv/
idiom
informal
When action is necessary in crisis
When there is no choice but to act because things are serious.
Examples
- When push comes to shove, we will help you.
- If push comes to shove, we can borrow some money.
push ahead
1/pˈʊʃ əhˈɛd/
phrasal verb
Continue despite obstacles
To keep doing something even if it is hard or slow.
Examples
- We decided to push ahead with our plans despite the bad weather.
- They are pushing ahead on construction of the new bridge.
push for
1/pˈʊʃ fɚ/
phrasal verb
Work hard toward a goal
To try very hard to make something happen or be done.
Examples
- The union is pushing for higher wages.
- She is pushing for changes in the law.
push through
1/pˈʊʃ θɹˈu/
phrasal verb
Complete despite problems
To finish something even if it is hard or there are problems.
Examples
- He pushed through his illness to finish the match.
- The bill was pushed through parliament quickly.
push someone's buttons
1/pˈʊʃ sˈʌmwˌʌnz bˈʌtənz/
idiom
informal
Provoke someone's reaction on purpose
To do things that you know will make someone angry or upset.
Examples
- Stop pushing my buttons—you're making me mad!
- She knows how to push his buttons and make him mad.
- He knows exactly how to push her buttons.
- Don't push my buttons today—I'm already stressed.