Press Meaning
/pɹɛs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAn instance of applying pressure; an instance of pressing.
nounA device used to apply pressure to an item.
Sentence Examples
Don't press your opinions on me.
The press besieged the minister with questions.
He officially announced his intention to resign at today's press conference.
CEFR Practice Quiz
You must ____ the small switch to turn on the kitchen lights.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The journalist worked for a major ____ agency that distributed news to outlets around the world.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English presse (“throng, crowd, clothespress”), partially from Old English press (“clothespress”) (from Medieval Latin pressa) and from Old French presse (Modern French presse) from Old French presser (“to press”), from Latin pressāre, from pressus, past participle of premere (“to press”). Cheifly displaced native Middle English thring (“press, crowd, throng”) (from Old English þring (“a press, crowd, anything that presses or confines”)). see English thring
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Connecting to the service is almost idiot proof and takes just a few button presses."
— 2004 10, “Maximum PC”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), page 25:
"a slaloming winger putting lumpen defenders on their backsides, or even a sneaky centre-forward, using his boundless energy to lead the press and force mistakes."
— 2020 August 7, Jonathan Liew, “Phil Foden stars to offer Manchester City glimpse of multiple futures”, in The Guardian:
"And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 19:3:
"The press in the square grew. Something would happen now."
— 1962, Olivia Manning, The Spoilt City; republished as The Balkan Trilogy, 1990, →ISBN, page 327:
"Imagine the press of humanity in a crowded Parisian brasserie, circa the era when Lagerfeld would have been patronizing such joints."
— 2015 March 10, Tim Banks, “Chanel Fall 2015 Ready-to-Wear Collection”, in Vogue:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
You must ____ the small switch to turn on the kitchen lights.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The journalist worked for a major ____ agency that distributed news to outlets around the world.