What is press? Pronunciation and usage in English

press means . Learn how to pronounce and use press through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of press

pressverb/noun

/prɛs/
Definition & pronunciation of press

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "press" in English. There are actually two common pronunciations, and they both sound quite different!

1. The most common pronunciation (like "press" as in "press button"):

  • IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /prɛs/
  • How to say it: Think of the sound "pre" as in "pretend" followed by “ss” as in "stress". It's a short, crisp “e” sound.
  • Breakdown:
    • "pr": Pronounced like the "pr" in "pray".
    • "e": A short, quick "e" sound – like the "e" in "bed".
    • "ss": Pronounced like "ss" in "stress".

2. The "pres" pronunciation (like "press" as in "press release"):

  • IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /prɛs/ - This is the SAME as the first pronunciation! It's often confused.
  • How to say it: This pronunciation is the same as the first one, and is often the more common one when referring to releases of information.

Key Differences & Tips:

  • Stress: The stress falls on the first syllable ("press").
  • Listen to Examples: The best way to learn is to hear it!
    • You can easily find audio examples on:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • In what context are you trying to pronounce "press"? (e.g., a button, a news release, a book)

Usage and examples with the word press in English

Let's break down how to use the word "press" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. As a Verb (Action - Applying Force)

  • To squeeze or crush: This is the most common basic meaning. It involves using force to make something smaller or to extract something.
    • “I need to press this grape to make wine.” (Extract juice)
    • “He pressed the mud from his shoes.” (Remove dirt)
    • “She pressed down on the button to start the machine.” (Apply force)
  • To force something out: Similar to squeezing, but often used for information or emotion.
    • “The detective tried to press him for details.” (Get information)
    • “The interviewers pressed her about her past.” (Keep asking questions)
    • “The grief pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.” (Emotional pressure)
  • To push forward: To actively strive for something.
    • “The company is pressing for a meeting with the government.” (Advocating for something)
    • “We need to press forward with the project.” (Continue working on it)

2. As a Noun (Object - A Device & the People Working With It)

  • The press (news media): This is the most widely recognized meaning. It refers to journalists and the news organizations they work for.
    • “The reporters were under pressure to publish the story quickly.” (Feeling pressure from the press)
    • “The press conference was packed with reporters.”
    • “The press reported extensively on the scandal.”
  • A printing press: A machine used to create printed materials.
    • “The museum has a historic press that they use to print reproductions.”
    • “He works on a press at the newspaper.”
  • Pressure (force): The force applied.
    • “The press of the water was immense.”
    • “He was under a lot of pressure to meet the deadline.” (Using "pressure" as a synonym - more common than "press" in this sense).

3. Phrases Using "Press"

  • Under pressure: Experiencing stress or being forced to do something. “She's working under tremendous pressure to finish the report.”
  • Press on: To continue, especially despite difficulty. “Despite the challenges, they pressed on with the research.”
  • Press the issue: To repeatedly bring up a topic, often to force a particular response. “He kept pressing the issue of taxes, even though it wasn't on the agenda.”
  • Press release: A formal announcement distributed to the media. “The company issued a press release about its new product.”
  • Press up: (Informal) To increase the pressure or intensity. “The music was turned up, press up!” (Meaning "loud up")

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Verb To squeeze/crush “She pressed the apple to get the juice.”
Verb To force out (information/emotion) “He pressed her for details.”
Verb To push forward “They are pressing for a solution.”
Noun News media “The reporters were under pressure.”
Noun Printing machine “He works on the press at the newspaper.”
Noun Force (pressure) “The press of the water was strong.”

To help me tailor the explanation further, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to use "press" in? (e.g., a specific sentence, a context like journalism, etc.)

Synonyms for the word press

Practice with vocabulary press

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The manufacturing team had to ______ for an immediate resolution to the production bottleneck, citing significant delays.
  2. During the presentation, the CEO sought to ______ the importance of sustainable development in the company's future strategy.
  3. The spokesperson stated that the company would ______ legal charges against any party found responsible for the intellectual property infringement.
  4. To activate the emergency stop, workers must ______ considerable force on the red lever.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The recent scandal has attracted considerable negative attention from the international ______. a) crowd b) media c) public d) press e) critics

  2. Before finalizing the report, please ______ the data for accuracy. a) verify b) approve c) amend d) confirm e) submit

  3. Project managers often have to ______ their teams to meet tight deadlines. a) encourage b) persuade c) press d) motivate e) push

  4. The committee decided to ______ the proposal until the next meeting for further discussion. a) postpone b) extend c) delay d) defer e) advance

  5. To confirm your selection, please ______ the 'Enter' key. a) tap b) hit c) strike d) press e) depress

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The activists wanted to make the government act immediately on climate change. Rewrite using "press" or a related word form:

  2. The media covered the story extensively, causing the company some difficulty. Rewrite using "press" or a related word form:

  3. It is important to emphasize the critical role of innovation in economic growth. Rewrite without using "press" or related word forms:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. press
  2. emphasize / highlight
  3. press
  4. apply / exert

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) media, d) press
  2. a) verify, d) confirm
  3. c) press, e) push
  4. a) postpone, c) delay, d) defer
  5. d) press, e) depress

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The activists aimed to press the government into immediate action on climate change.
  2. The company faced negative publicity due to the extensive coverage from the press.
  3. It is important to highlight the critical role of innovation in economic growth.

Comment ()