Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to push back

to push back

97 3.9
Force a person or thing to move backward in body and feeling
  • phrasal verb
  • /pʊʃ bæk/
translation icon : hacer retroceder
  • The invaders were pushed back, and large areas occupied by them were cleared.
  • push back the invaders

If I come out and push back hard, I'm a bully.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • They should be the tip of the spear for pushing back against these things.

  • The police soon advance, using clubs to push the crowd back.

    Academic text (2001)

  • But so, so let me push back on this a little bit.

  • - If we have to push back, we will.

    Walkout (2006)

  • Just have to push back and keep going.

    Hickey & Boggs (1972)

  • But I think we need to push back whenever possible.

  • So maybe I haven't seen anybody really push back against him at all.

  • The Red Army continues to push back the White Army on all fronts.

  • Downstairs, police officers in riot gear pushed back protesters who were trying to enter the building.

    Academic text (2016)

  • The police pushed back the crowd to maintain order during the protest.

Synonyms

to push away
vsto push back
37 2.0

To move something away from you by pushing with your hands

can be physical but also includes resisting or repressing nonphysical influences
to repel
vsto push back
21 4.2

Make someone or something move back and stay away, often by using force

can also mean repressing an internal feeling rather than only repelling externally
to drive back
vsto push back
19 4.1

Force someone or something to move away from danger

includes resisting or repressing influence or feeling not only defence against threats
to turn back
vsto push back
17 2.0

To stop someone from going forward or entering

focuses more on moving backward or resisting feelings rather than mere prevention
to beat back
vsto push back
14 6.0

To force someone or something to move away

also covers nonphysical resistance like stopping feelings or influence
to force back
vsto push back
10 4.9

Make people or things move backward by using strength and stop feelings by holding them back

also covers resisting or repressing influence or feeling not only physical force
to repulse
vsto push back
7 7.0

To make someone or something go away

emphasizes both physical moving back and resisting influence or emotion
to rebuff
vsto push back
3 7.9

To drive back an attack or enemy force

is broader and also used for resisting influence or emotion not only attacks

Antonyms

to encourage
∞ 2.3

Give someone support and confidence so they try or keep doing something

How Strong

to drive back
19 4.1
to repel
21 4.2
to beat back
14 6.0
to push back
97 3.9

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

push + back

The core meaning 'to force someone or something to move backward' is directly and compositionally derived from 'push' (apply force) + 'back' (toward the rear). The figurative sense 'to resist or oppose' is a simple metaphorical extension of the physical image (pushing something back) and is a common cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely infer the MWE's meanings.

Etymology

Push back comes from the clear image of using your hands to push someone so they step back, forcing them to 'move backward'. That same idea of forcing something back explains why push back is also used to mean 'resist' or 'repress'.