Pressure Meaning
Pressure Definition & Usage
The continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.
Examples
- "The pressure from the water caused the pipes to burst."
- "He felt the pressure of the heavy book pressing on his chest."
- "She used the pressure of her hands to push the dough into shape."
- "The mountain climbers struggled against the extreme pressure at high altitudes."
- "The balloon popped when the pressure inside exceeded its capacity."
The feeling of stress or anxiety caused by demands or expectations from others or oneself.
Examples
- "She was under pressure to meet the tight deadline."
- "The pressure of her job was starting to take a toll on her health."
- "He cracked under pressure during the final moments of the game."
- "Financial pressure led them to reconsider their spending habits."
- "There’s a lot of pressure to perform well in school these days."
To force something into a particular shape or condition by applying physical force.
Examples
- "She pressured the clay into a bowl with her fingers."
- "The negotiator pressured both sides to come to an agreement."
- "I had to pressure the key into the lock to get it to work."
- "He pressured his way through the crowded streets."
- "She felt the need to pressure him into making a decision."
A situation in which prices, costs, or other market factors are influenced by competition or supply and demand.
Examples
- "The pressure in the housing market is driving prices up."
- "There’s immense pressure on companies to lower their carbon footprint."
- "Rising pressure on the job market makes it harder to find stable employment."
- "The company faces increasing pressure from competitors to innovate."
- "Market pressures are causing wages to stagnate in some industries."
Cultural Context
The word 'pressure' has its origins in the Latin word 'pressura', meaning 'a pressing or squeezing.' It has evolved in usage from primarily physical contexts (involving force and compression) to more abstract ones (such as stress and demands in both personal and professional life).
The Weight of the World
Story
The Weight of the World
In a small town, Sarah had always felt like she was carrying the weight of the world. As the local bakery's owner, the physical pressure of kneading dough each morning was a familiar challenge. But it wasn't the flour or yeast that weighed on her most—it was the constant psychological pressure she faced from every direction. Her customers expected perfection, her employees needed guidance, and her family was beginning to notice her exhaustion. Every day felt like a test, not only of her strength but of her patience. One morning, as Sarah struggled to shape a batch of baguettes, she thought about the pressure that had been building for months. The pressure to succeed, to meet everyone’s expectations, and to keep the bakery running smoothly. Her hands pressed the dough with a little too much force, and it tore. Frustrated, she sighed. "Why does everything have to be so hard?" she muttered. Just then, her friend Emma, who had worked in the bakery since it opened, walked over with a warm smile. "You're not alone in this," she said. "We all feel the pressure from time to time. But we can handle it together." That day, Sarah decided to take a step back. She could no longer let the constant pressure crush her. She delegated tasks to her employees, asked for help when needed, and took time to breathe. The bakery still flourished, but Sarah learned to manage the pressure—both the physical demands of her job and the mental burdens of her responsibilities. By the end of the month, Sarah realized that while pressure is inevitable, it is also manageable, and sometimes sharing it with others makes all the difference.
Related Words
