to press upon or against (a thing) with force in order to move it away.

to move (something) in a specified way by exerting force; shove; drive

to push something aside; to push the door open.

to effect or accomplish by thrusting obstacles aside

to push one's way through the crowd.

to cause to extend or project; thrust.

to press or urge to some action or course

His mother pushed him to get a job.

to press (an action, proposal, etc.) with energy and insistence

to push a bill through Congress.

to carry (an action or thing) toward a conclusion or extreme

She pushed the project to completion.

to press the adoption, use, sale, etc., of

to push inferior merchandise on customers.

to press or bear hard upon, as in dealings with someone

The prosecutor pushed him for an answer.

to put into difficulties because of the lack of something specified (usually fol. by for )

to be pushed for time.

Slang . to peddle (illicit drugs).

Informal . to be approaching a specific age, speed, or the like

The maestro is pushing ninety-two.

Photography . to modify (film processing) to compensate for underexposure.

to exert a thrusting force upon something.

to use steady force in moving a thing away; shove.

to make one's way with effort or persistence, as against difficulty or opposition.

to extend or project; thrust

The point of land pushed far out into the sea.

to put forth vigorous or persistent efforts.

Slang . to sell illicit drugs.

to move on being pushed

a swinging door that pushes easily.

the act of pushing; a shove or thrust.

a contrivance or part to be pushed in order to operate a mechanism.

a vigorous onset or effort.

a determined advance against opposition, obstacles, etc.

a vigorous and determined military attack or campaign

The big push began in April.

the pressure of circumstances, activities, etc.

Informal . persevering energy; enterprise.

Informal . a crowd or company of people.

British . dismissal from a job; sack.

Australian Slang . a gang of hoodlums. ?

push around, to treat contemptuously and unfairly; bully

She's not the kind of person who can be pushed around.

push off, Informal . to go away; depart

We stopped at Denver for the night and were ready to push off again the following morning.

push on, to press forward; continue; proceed

The pioneers, despite overwhelming obstacles, pushed on across the plains.

push one's luck. luck ( def. 12 ) .

when or if push comes to shove

when or if matters are ultimately confronted or resolved; when or if a problem must be faced; in a crucial situation

If push comes to shove, the government will impose quotas on imports.

noun

pull , discouragement , disinterest

verb

pull , discourage , dissuade , repress , suppress , conceal , hide

noun

advance , assault , attack , bearing , blow , butt , charge , drive , driving , effort , energy , exerting , exertion , forcing , impact , jolt , lean , mass , nudge , offensive , onset , poke , prod , propulsion , shove , shoving , straining , thrust , thrusting , weight , ambition , dynamism , enterprise , get-up-and-go , go * , gumption * , guts * , initiative , pep , punch , snap , spunk , starch , vigor , vitality , campaign , crusade , movement , encouragement , fillip , impetus , impulse , incentive , inducement , motivation , spur , stimulant , stimulation , stimulator , hustle

verb

accelerate , bear down , budge , bulldoze * , bump , butt , crowd , crush against , depress , dig , drive , elbow , exert , force , gore , high pressure , hustle , impel , jam , jostle , launch , lie on , make one’s way , move , muscle , nudge , poke , pour it on , pressure , propel , put the arm on , railroad * , ram * , rest on , shift , shoulder , shove , squash , squeeze , squish , steamroll , stir , strain , strong-arm * , browbeat , coerce , constrain , dragoon , egg on * , encourage , exert influence , expedite , fire up , goad , goose * , go to town on , hurry , influence , inspire , jolly , key up , kid , lean on , motivate , oblige , overpress , persuade , press , prod , push around , put the screws to , put up to , sell on , speed , speed up , spur , turn on * , advance , boost , cry up , hype * , make known , plug * , propagandize , publicize , puff * , ram , thrust , ballyhoo , build up , cry , popularize , promote , talk up , deal , peddle , advertise , bear , bulldoze , bunt , cram , ding , effort , energy , expand , extend , forge , gumption , heave , hunch , incentive , increase , initiative , plug , prompt , sell , stimulus , urge , vigor , vitality

phrasal verb

depart , exit , get away , get off , go away , leave , pull out , quit , retire , run , withdraw , fare , journey , pass , proceed , remove , travel , wend