to press on

Examples

• All

• 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.

  The Hate U Give (2018)

• We must press on.

  The Road to Hong Kong (1962)

• Well, let's press on.

  A Boy and His Dog (1975)

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

  Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

C

to continue

vsto press on

∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

is about continuing despite difficulties rather than neutral ongoing action

G

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

K

to keep going

vsto press on

357 1.6

To continue doing something without stopping

emphasizes continuing despite difficulties rather than mere uninterrupted action

K

to keep on

vsto press on

306 1.4

Continue doing something without stopping

is about continuing despite problems rather than simple uninterrupted action

C

to carry on

vsto press on

253 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

H

to hold on

vsto press on

173 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

G

to get on with

vsto press on

168 2.3

Continue doing something, especially after an interruption

is more about continuing despite problems than restarting or steady progress

H

to hang on

vsto press on

• Informal

46 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

is about continuing despite difficulty rather than the stubborn refusal sense

P

to push through

vsto press on

39 3.6

To keep going despite problems until you finish

is broader persistence rather than specifically forcing a way through barriers

P

to push on

vsto press on

21 3.7

Move forward or keep going despite difficulty

is general persistence through difficulty rather than specifically forcing progress

P

to persist in

vsto press on

20 4.1

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

is more about carrying on despite problems than sheer determination

P

to push forward

vsto press on

19 3.1

To keep making progress despite problems

is more about general continuing rather than focused progress making

C

to carry on with

vsto press on

19 2.6

Continue doing something after a pause or interruption

is about continuing despite difficulty rather than mainly restarting after breaks

C

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

P

to plough on

vsto press on

• UK

1 5.0

Keep doing something despite difficulty or others telling you to stop

is about continuing despite trouble but less focused on steady effort

K

to keep on pushing through

vsto press on

• Informal

5.1

To continue to try hard even when things are difficult

is more about simply continuing despite obstacles rather than forceful effort

Antonyms

G

to give up

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

Q

to quit

668 1.0

To stop doing a habit or activity like smoking

How Persistent

to persevere

22 5.1

to press on

26 3.9

to keep going

357 1.6

to carry on

253 2.7

to continue

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology