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Antonyms for press


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : pres
Phonetic Transcription : prɛs



Definition of press

Origin :
  • c.1300, presse, "crowd, throng, company; crowding and jostling of a throng; a massing together," from Old French presse (n.) "throng, crush, crowd; wine or cheese press" (11c.), from Latin pressare (see press (v.1)). Late Old English had press "clothes press."
  • Meaning "device for pressing cloth" is from late 14c., as is also the sense "device to squeeze juice from grapes, oil from olives, cider from apples, etc.," from Middle French presse. Specific sense "machine for printing" is from 1530s; this was extended to publishing houses by 1570s and to publishing generally (in phrases like freedom of the press) from c.1680. This gradually shifted c.1800-1820 to "periodical publishing, journalism." The press, meaning "journalists collectively" is attested from 1921 (though superseded by media since the rise of television, etc.).
  • Press agent is from 1873; press conference is attested from 1931, though the thing itself dates to at least World War I. Press secretary is recorded from 1940. Via the sense "crowd, throng," Middle English in press meant "in public," a coincidental parallel to the modern phrase in the press. Weightlifting sense is from 1908. The basketball defense so called from 1959 (in full-court press).
  • noun people or person working in communications
  • noun horde, large group
  • noun strain, pressure
  • verb push on with force
  • verb pressure, trouble
Example sentences :
  • I'm sportively pretending that I can press it back into shape.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • His countrymen were the first to press steam into the active service of mankind.
  • Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
  • I don't quite know what a press agent is; but I'm sure I never had any.
  • Extract from : « The Bacillus of Beauty » by Harriet Stark
  • She'll show up after the paper goes to press, if not sooner.
  • Extract from : « The Bacillus of Beauty » by Harriet Stark
  • Crane did not press the point; he understood Porter's motives throughout.
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • America, to be true to herself, must beware of such false lights, of the press as these.
  • Extract from : « Ridgeway » by Scian Dubh
  • I dared not press him with more questions; but after an interval he said plainly: "She is not there now."
  • Extract from : « Green Mansions » by W. H. Hudson
  • But she was far too wise to press such arguments in her son's present mood.
  • Extract from : « Dust » by Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
  • Unquestionably the Press has a great deal to do with these epidemics.
  • Extract from : « Night and Morning, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • Boil the spinach as above, and drain and press it, but do not chop it.
  • Extract from : « Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches » by Eliza Leslie

Synonyms for press

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019