high-pressure

high-pressure — adjective

IPA/ˌhaɪˈpreʃ.ər/
IPA/ˌhaɪˈpreʃ.ɚ/

1. A high-pressure system or piece of equipment pushes gas, air, or liquid out with

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

A high-pressure system or piece of equipment pushes gas, air, or liquid out with a force far above the normal level of the surrounding atmosphere.

Example

The fire crew used a high-pressure hose to put out the fire quickly.

collocation: high-pressure hose / high-pressure pipe

Constanza took her car to the garage after the high-pressure fuel pump started leaking.

Common collocations
  • high-pressure hose
  • high-pressure water
  • high-pressure pipe
  • high-pressure pump
  • high-pressure gas
Synonyms
  • compressed

    describes air or gas squeezed into a smaller volume, more technical than high-pressure

  • pressurized

    kept at a controlled high pressure, especially in a sealed container or aircraft cabin

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

high-pressure + noun

2. A high-pressure way of selling or persuading pushes someone strongly and insiste

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

A high-pressure way of selling or persuading pushes someone strongly and insistently to buy a product or agree to something, often making them feel cornered or uncomfortable.

Example

Wei felt uneasy when the car dealer started using high-pressure sales tactics.

collocation: high-pressure sales tactics / high-pressure pitch

The charity prefers a polite approach instead of high-pressure methods to ask for donations.

Common collocations
  • high-pressure sales
  • high-pressure tactics
  • high-pressure methods
  • high-pressure pitch
  • high-pressure selling
Synonyms
  • aggressive

    broader in meaning — describes any forceful approach, not limited to sales

  • pushy

    informal — annoyingly forceful in a persistent way

Antonyms
  • low-key

    restrained and not forceful in behaviour or approach

  • gentle

    soft and considerate, without any pressure

Grammar Patterns

high-pressure + noun (sales / tactics / methods / pitch)

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively before nouns such as 'sales', 'tactics', 'methods', 'pitch', or 'selling'.

3. A high-pressure job or situation demands a lot of effort and attention, causing

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

A high-pressure job or situation demands a lot of effort and attention, causing a person to feel constant worry or nervous strain.

Example

After ten years in a high-pressure job, Dario decided to take a less demanding role.

collocation: high-pressure job / high-pressure environment

Jisoo found the high-pressure atmosphere in the newsroom difficult to deal with every day.

Common collocations
  • high-pressure job
  • high-pressure environment
  • high-pressure situation
  • high-pressure role
  • high-pressure work
Synonyms
  • stressful

    very common synonym; describes any situation that causes worry

  • demanding

    requires a lot of effort but does not necessarily imply negative strain

  • intense

    involving very strong concentration or effort, often with pressure

Antonyms
  • relaxed

    free from worry, pressure, or tension

  • easy-going

    informal — not demanding or stressful

Grammar Patterns

high-pressure + noun | be + high-pressure

Common Mistakes

My job is very high-pressure and stress.
My job is very high-pressure and stressful.
'Stress' is a noun; the adjective form is 'stressful'.

high-pressure — noun

IPA/ˌhaɪ ˈpreʃə(r)/
IPA/ˌhaɪ ˈpreʃər/

high-pressure — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/3

All four words describe situations that require a lot of effort, but they differ in how they emphasise the toll on a person. 'Stressful' (the closest alternative to high-pressure) focuses on the negative emotional effect — anxiety and worry — and is the most general term. 'Demanding' highlights that a task needs a lot of time, skill, or energy, but it can be neutral or even positive ('a demanding but rewarding career'). 'Intense' describes the depth of concentration or speed required, often in a creative or competitive setting ('an intense rehearsal'). 'Taxing' emphasises the physical or mental drain over time, suggesting gradual exhaustion ('a taxing climb up the mountain'). A high-pressure role is typically both demanding and stressful, but the phrase carries an extra sense of being pushed from outside by deadlines, targets, or expectations. For example, 'She left her high-pressure job on the trading floor for a less demanding teaching position.'

stressful ↗demanding ↗intense ↗taxing ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • high-pressure system
  • high-pressure area
  • high-pressure environment
  • high-pressure job
  • high-pressure sales
  • high-pressure tactics
  • high-pressure hose
  • high-pressure pump
  • high-pressure water

Adverbs

  • extremely high-pressure
  • incredibly high-pressure
  • fairly high-pressure

Phrases

  • area of high-pressure
  • high-pressure situation
  • be under high-pressure

Prepositions

  • under high-pressure
  • at high-pressure
  • with high-pressure

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinFrenchEnglish

High-pressure is a compound formed from 'high' (meaning great in degree, from Old English 'heah') and 'pressure' (meaning the force of pushing, from Latin 'pressura', based on 'premere' meaning to press). The term was first used in the mid-19th century to describe steam engines and boilers that operated at high atmospheric pressure. By the early 1900s it had extended to weather systems, and later in the 20th century to aggressive sales methods and psychologically demanding situations.