pressure
/ˈpreʃ.ə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Pressure is force that is pushed onto something. It can also mean stress or strong demands from people or situations.
- The pressure on the glass was too much.
- I’m feeling a lot of pressure at work.
verb
To pressure someone means to make them feel they must do something. It often suggests strong insistence or force.
- They pressured him to sign the form.
- Don’t pressure her to answer now.
Adinary Nuance
Pressure is stronger than simple request or advice. It suggests force, stress, or a feeling that you must act. In everyday English, it often has a negative or difficult sense. Writers use it when the demand feels heavy, not polite.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- áp lực
- Spanish
- presión
- Chinese
- 压力
- Japanese
- 圧力
- Korean
- 압력
Etymology
Pressure came into English from Old French pression, based on Latin pressura, from premere meaning “to press.” The word has been used in English since the 1300s.
Common phrases
under pressureput pressure onpeer pressurepressure cooker
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is pressure a positive or negative word?
- It is often negative when it means stress or force. But it can be neutral in science or medicine.
- What is the difference between pressure and stress?
- Pressure is the outside demand or force. Stress is the feeling you have because of it.
- Can I say "pressure someone to do something"?
- Yes. It is a common and natural verb phrase.
- Is pressure common in business English?
- Yes. People often say under pressure or put pressure on in business writing and speech.