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to push

to push

731 1.5
To try hard to achieve something, especially against difficulty
  • verb
  • /pʊʃ/
translation icon : esforzarse
  • But I think we have to push for justice.
  • push forward
  • push hard
  • push an agenda

And I would love to push that kind of like idea.

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Examples

  • I do think the state office needs to be the one to push the initiative for public awareness.

    Academic text (2013)
  • I think it's my journey... to push for peace and the health of the planet.

  • All right, let's try and push this a little further.

  • The third adaptation is to push for more rigor in each of the elements of the framework.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Rather than aggressively push for democracy, a more reserved United States would lead by example.

    Academic text (2011)
  • President Roosevelt's request eventually pushed the first steps of naval integration into action.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I think I've always enjoyed kind of pushing myself creatively.

  • We need to push for improved education so every child can succeed.

  • She worked hard to push the project to completion before the deadline.

  • The community will push for better public transportation options at the next city council meeting.

Synonyms

to try
vsto push
1.0

To make an effort to do something difficult

involves firmer determination and stronger effort to advance or achieve
to work
vsto push
1.0

To move forward slowly while making steady progress

is determined effort that can be quicker or deliberately forceful
to fight
vsto push
1.0

To try hard to oppose or overcome something difficult

is determined effort focused on achieving or advancing without necessarily opposing
to campaign
vsto push
344 3.9

To work in a planned way to win support or votes

is determined effort that can be informal and not organized
to go for
vsto push
272 2.5

To try to get something you want by making an effort

is determined effort that often emphasizes advancing or pushing forward
to strive
vsto push
156 3.7

To work very hard to reach a goal

is determined effort that can be narrower or action-focused rather than general striving
to make a point
vsto push
129 3.5

Try to do something on purpose because it is important

is focused on effort to achieve or advance rather than emphasis
to aim for
vsto push
79 2.8

To try to reach a goal

is determined effort to advance or achieve in general, not only goal direction
to put forth
vsto push
45 4.1

To try hard to do something

is determined effort with stronger sense of drive or advance
to push through
vsto push
39 3.6

To keep going despite problems until you finish

is determined effort aimed at achieving or advancing a goal
to push it
vsto push
  • Informal
39 5.3

To try very hard to do more than usual

is determined effort that may be ordinary rather than exceptional
to labor
vsto push
  • US
26 2.7

To work hard on difficult physical tasks

is determined effort often involving purposeful action to advance
to push on
vsto push
21 3.7

Move forward or keep going despite difficulty

is active effort to achieve rather than mere continuation
to make it a point
vsto push
21 4.3

Be sure to do something regularly

is determined effort that may be goal or advance focused rather than principled action
to push forward
vsto push
19 3.1

To keep making progress despite problems

is the choice to exert determined effort to achieve or advance
to go the distance
vsto push
16 4.6

To keep working on a task until it is finished, even when it is hard

focuses on determined effort to achieve or advance rather than only finishing
to crusade
vsto push
8 6.8

To campaign strongly for a cause over a long time

is determined effort aimed at achieving or advancing broadly, not only causes
to move heaven and earth
vsto push
  • Informal
7 4.2

Do everything you can to achieve something important

is determined effort that may be more limited in means or scope
4 3.5

Try much harder to work or train

is general determined effort without self-directed intensification
to put out
vsto push
3 5.0

Make a lot of effort to do something

is determined effort that can include gradual or strategic action
2 7.5

To start working very hard to reach a goal

is determined effort that need not involve starting strong physical work
to hit the accelerator
vsto push
  • Informal
1 4.4

To try harder or work faster to reach a goal

is about determined effort to advance, not only speeding up

To try very hard and do anything to achieve something

is determined effort but not necessarily extreme or exhaustive effort
to extend oneself
vsto push
1 6.9

To make a big effort beyond your usual limits

is determined effort that can be ordinary and not extreme
to make ground
vsto push
1 4.6

To get closer to a goal

is determined effort that emphasizes active pushing to achieve rather than just gaining ground
6.1

To work much harder and faster to get something done

is steady determined effort rather than a sudden intensity jump
to keep on pushing through
vsto push
  • Informal
5.1

To continue to try hard even when things are difficult

is determined effort that may be shorter or goal focused

To help a project make progress by leading and taking action

is determined effort that can be individual rather than project leadership

Antonyms

1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

Idioms

To try new ideas that go beyond accepted limits

3 7.2

A situation that becomes serious and needs you to act

1 7.1

To do or say something on purpose to annoy someone

1 7.2

Use all your energy and take big risks to test your skill

1 8.9

To be dead and buried, often said as a joke

Spend a lot of money for a special celebration

To try to make something happen when it is already easy or people already agree

6.8

To risk losing success by asking for more than is wise

9.6

Try to do something that is very hard or impossible

To ignore or hide problems instead of dealing with them

Phrasal Verbs

97 3.9

Force a person or thing to move backward in body and feeling

to push around
  • Informal
66 5.6

To treat someone in a bossy way so they do what you want

43 3.2

To stop other people from getting close to you emotionally

To keep going despite problems until you finish

to push it
  • Informal
39 5.3

To try very hard to do more than usual

37 2.0

To move something away from you by pushing with your hands

21 3.7

Move forward or keep going despite difficulty

To keep making progress despite problems

16 3.2

To move something outward using force

16 2.0

Make something move down by using force

to push off
  • Informal
14 6.8

Leave a place or start a journey

11 2.1

Move something to a higher place by pushing from below or behind

Act in a way that makes other people avoid you

to push out
  • Jargon
8 3.5

To send updates or new content to users over the internet

Refuse to think about something, for example worries or objections

Make a person or thing work as hard as possible until they cannot keep going

Move something or someone out of the way with your hands

To move ahead by pushing people or things out of the way

5 5.6

To join a line or enter a place without waiting your turn

Move forward by getting past people or things blocking the way

Try much harder to work or train

To break through soil or skin when new growth appears

Move a meeting to a later time or day

5.6

Move forward through a crowd by forcing people aside with your body

To ask firmly for more pay from your boss

To work much harder and faster to get something done

To keep trying and do well despite difficult times

Compounds

1 1.9

A small switch you press with a finger to control a machine like a coffee maker or elevator

1 3.0

It works when you press a button

1 3.2

A wide cleaning tool with a long handle that you push to sweep floors

1 2.7

A bicycle that you move by pedalling

A radio you change stations on by pressing preset buttons instead of turning a dial

1 4.1

Designers make it very simple so anyone can use it

4.6

A button on a door or wall you press to ring a bell at an entrance

push-down queue
  • Specialized
7.7

A pile where the last item put on is the first taken off

push-down stack
  • Specialized
6.0

A list where the last item added is the first removed

push-down storage
  • Specialized
7.8

A way to store items so the last one added is the first taken out

push-down store
  • Specialized
8.2

A storage where the last thing put in comes out first, like a pile of plates

A small switch that you press with a finger

push-down list
  • Specialized
7.5

A list where the last thing you put in comes out first

How Determined

to strive
156 3.7
to push
731 1.5
to try
1.0

Surface Forms

push infinitive
pushed past
pushed past participle
pushing present participle
pushes third person singular

Etymology

The verb push meaning to try hard to get something comes from Latin pellere 'to drive'. So to push for a change is like driving the idea forward until it moves.