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to press on

to press on

35 3.9
To keep going with a task even when it is hard
  • phrasal verb
: continuar
  • Despite the rain, we decided to press on with our hike up the mountain.

Very few places remaining for human beings, and now they're supposed to press on northward.

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Examples

  • In fact, Pakistan's civil-military establishment was determined to press on with its program.

    Academic text (1991)
  • As the excavators pressed on, Trimble kept a close eye on the security situation.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Press on with pride and press on with purpose.

  • So I guess we, we press on, it's nothing.

  • So let's press on, see what happens here.

  • At least we will survive here and can press on to more comfortable places in the morning.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • None of us feel good, Starr, but we're pressing on anyway.

  • We must press on.

  • Well, let's press on.

  • I didn't share those qualities, so I pressed on with my inquiry.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

to continue
vsto press on
∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

is about continuing despite difficulties rather than neutral ongoing action
to go on
vsto press on
∞ 1.0

Keep happening or keep being done without stopping

is more about keeping at an activity despite obstacles rather than mere continuation
to keep going
vsto press on
892 1.6

To continue doing something without stopping

emphasizes continuing despite difficulties rather than mere uninterrupted action
to keep on
vsto press on
604 1.4

Continue doing something without stopping

is about continuing despite problems rather than simple uninterrupted action
to carry on
vsto press on
285 2.7

To continue doing something after an interruption or when it is difficult

is about continuing despite difficulty rather than mainly restarting after breaks
to get on with
vsto press on
229 2.3

Continue doing something, especially after an interruption

is more about continuing despite problems than restarting or steady progress
to hang on
vsto press on
  • Informal
227 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

is about continuing despite difficulty rather than the stubborn refusal sense
to push through
vsto press on
98 3.6

To keep going despite problems until you finish

is broader persistence rather than specifically forcing a way through barriers
to hold on
vsto press on
82 3.3

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

is about continuing despite problems rather than a firm refusal to stop
to push forward
vsto press on
52 3.1

To keep making progress despite problems

is more about general continuing rather than focused progress making
to push on
vsto press on
42 3.7

Move forward or keep going despite difficulty

is general persistence through difficulty rather than specifically forcing progress
to carry on with
vsto press on
29 2.6

Continue doing something after a pause or interruption

is about continuing despite difficulty rather than mainly restarting after breaks
to persist in
vsto press on
22 4.1

To keep doing something even when it is difficult or people disagree

is more about carrying on despite problems than sheer determination
to crack on
vsto press on
  • UK
9 6.8

To keep working on something quickly and with energy

is about steady persistence through difficulty rather than energetic renewed effort
to plough on
vsto press on
  • UK
2 5.0

Keep doing something despite difficulty or others telling you to stop

is about continuing despite trouble but less focused on steady effort
to keep on pushing through
vsto press on
  • Informal
1 5.1

To continue to try hard even when things are difficult

is more about simply continuing despite obstacles rather than forceful effort

Antonyms

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

∞ 1.0

To stop doing a habit or activity like smoking

How Persistent

to persevere
37 5.1
to press on
35 3.9
to keep going
892 1.6
to carry on
285 2.7
to continue
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

press on infinitive
pressed on past
pressed on past participle
pressing on present participle
presses on third person singular

Morphology

press + on

The meaning 'to continue or persist' is directly inferable from combining 'press' (to urge or push) with the particle 'on' (indicating continuation or forward movement); the composition follows a common verb + particle pattern where the particle encodes continued action. This is a productive, cross-linguistic pattern and would be recognizable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Press on paints a simple picture: press means push and on means forward, like pushing a heavy cart up a muddy hill. That's why it now means 'to continue' or 'to keep going' even when things are difficult.