Crush Meaning

UK /krʌʃ/
US /krʌʃ/
Word Definition
crush meaning

Crush Definition & Usage

verb

To press or squeeze with force, often causing damage or deformation.

Examples

  • "She accidentally crushed the can with her bare hands."
  • "The car was crushed under the weight of the fallen tree."
  • "He crushed the paper into a ball and tossed it into the trash."
  • "The grapes were crushed to make wine."
  • "The athlete's foot was injured when he accidentally crushed it underfoot."
verb

To experience intense feelings of admiration or infatuation for someone, often in a romantic or youthful manner.

Examples

  • "She had a huge crush on the new guy in class."
  • "He couldn't stop thinking about his crush after their conversation."
  • "Everyone knew she had a crush on her best friend."
  • "It's normal to have a crush in high school, but it doesn't always last."
  • "He confessed to his crush during the school dance, hoping she'd feel the same."
noun

A strong but often unreciprocated feeling of affection or infatuation for someone, typically romantic in nature.

Examples

  • "She admitted she had a crush on him for months before finally telling him."
  • "He was nervous around his crush and couldn't think of anything to say."
  • "My friend just got dumped by his crush, and he’s heartbroken."
  • "I used to have a major crush on the actor, but I’ve moved on now."
  • "He has a crush on a girl in his class but doesn’t know how to talk to her."

Cultural Context

The word 'crush' in the emotional sense originated in the 1880s in American slang. It likely stems from the physical sense of pressing or breaking something, drawing a parallel to the feeling of being overwhelmed or 'crushed' by emotions. Over time, 'crush' has been widely adopted, particularly in adolescent and pop culture, to describe unreciprocated romantic feelings.

The Crush That Changed Everything

Story

The Crush That Changed Everything

David had always been a quiet guy, sitting in the back row of his high school chemistry class, sketching in his notebook instead of paying attention. But when Lily transferred into the class, something shifted. She had an effortless grace, a laugh that echoed through the room, and eyes that seemed to light up the dullest day. David, who had never thought much about love or relationships, suddenly found himself crushed—by feelings he couldn't explain. He had developed an intense crush on her that grew stronger every day. He would often glance at her, only to quickly look away when she caught his eye. His heart would race, and his mind would go blank. Everyone could see it, especially his best friend Sarah, who teased him endlessly. 'You know, David,' she laughed one day as they walked to lunch, 'you’re not fooling anyone. You’ve got it bad for Lily.' David tried to dismiss it as nothing more than a passing infatuation, but deep down, he knew it wasn’t just a fleeting fancy. He really liked her, more than he ever thought possible. But every time he tried to talk to her, his words stumbled and his palms became sweaty. He was crushed by the thought of rejection, even though he had never even told her how he felt. One day, Lily sat down beside him in the library. She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling. 'David, can I ask you something?' she said. His heart raced. 'Of course,' he managed to say, his voice barely a whisper. 'Are you going to the dance this Saturday?' she asked. For a moment, David froze. Was this it? The moment he had been waiting for? 'Actually, I was hoping you’d go with me,' she said, before he could even answer. He blinked, stunned. 'Wait, what?' 'Yeah,' she continued, 'I’ve had a crush on you for a while.' David couldn’t believe his ears. All this time, he had been worried about his feelings, but it turned out she had been crushing on him, too. From that moment on, things were different. His once nervous feelings of being crushed by his emotions turned into excitement and joy as he realized the crush had led to something much bigger—an unexpected beginning of a new chapter in his life. That night, David could hardly sleep. He kept replaying the conversation over and over in his head, smiling at the thought that sometimes, crushes aren’t just fleeting feelings—they can change everything.

The Crush That Changed Everything