pushes
pushes — verb
- pushespresent simple I / you / we / they
- pusheses3rd person singular
- pushesing-ing form
- pushesedpast simple
1. to press steadily against something with your hands, arms, or body so that it sh
to press steadily against something with your hands, arms, or body so that it shifts away from you or changes location.
Karim pushed the heavy box across the kitchen floor.
push + object + adverb of direction
The door was stuck, so Diego pushed against it with his shoulder.
push + against + object
Sofie pushed her shopping cart toward the checkout line.
Mira pushed the button to call the elevator.
The wooden gate would not open until Joon pushed it hard.
- pull
to draw something toward yourself
文法句型
push + object
push + object + adverb/preposition
push + against/at
用法筆記
This is the core physical sense. The object can be any movable item. Common prepositions include across, against, into, through, and toward.
常見錯誤
2. to move forward by pressing against people or things that are in your way, espec
to move forward by pressing against people or things that are in your way, especially in a crowded space.
Leo pushed through the crowd to reach the front of the stage.
push + through + noun phrase
The nurse pushed past the visitors and ran into the emergency room.
push + past + noun phrase
Hari pushed his way between two men blocking the doorway.
People were pushing and shoving to get onto the train before the doors closed.
Eshe pushed forward through the long line of waiting passengers.
文法句型
push + adverb/preposition
push through
push past
用法筆記
The object of the preposition (through, past) describes the obstacle. When no obstacle is named, the listener assumes a crowded or obstructed space.
常見錯誤
3. to advance steadily toward a target during combat operations, often while facing
to advance steadily toward a target during combat operations, often while facing enemy resistance.
The army pushed north toward the river crossing before dawn.
push + direction + toward + target
Government troops pushed deeper into rebel territory during the night.
The soldiers pushed forward despite heavy rain and muddy roads.
Allied forces pushed slowly through the forest toward the enemy base.
The general ordered his men to push into the valley at sunrise.
- retreat
to move backward under pressure
文法句型
push + adverb of direction
push forward
push into
用法筆記
The subject is always a military force or group. Unlike sense 2, the focus is on tactical progress rather than getting past a physical obstacle.
4. to try very hard to make someone do something they may not want to do, by using
to try very hard to make someone do something they may not want to do, by using strong arguments, repeated requests, or emotional pressure.
Karim's parents pushed him to study medicine instead of art.
push + object + to-infinitive
The manager pushed her team into finishing the project a week early.
push + object + into + -ing
Mayumi did not want to go, but her friends pushed her to join the trip.
Brian pushed the committee to make a decision before the deadline.
The charity workers pushed local officials into building more shelters for the homeless.
- discourage
to persuade someone NOT to do something
文法句型
push + object + to-infinitive
push + object + into + -ing form
用法筆記
Both patterns (push + to-infinitive and push + into + -ing) are common. The into + -ing form often carries a stronger sense of reluctance from the person being pushed.
常見錯誤
5. to promote a product or service with strong, repeated advertising so that more p
to promote a product or service with strong, repeated advertising so that more people buy it.
The company pushed its new phone with ads on every social media platform.
push + object + with + method of promotion
Stores often push expensive chocolates and flowers just before Valentine's Day.
The publisher is pushing the author's first novel through book tours and online reviews.
Shanti refused to push any beauty products she did not personally use.
Salespeople were pushing a new insurance plan to everyone who walked into the bank.
文法句型
push + object
用法筆記
This sense is slightly informal, common in business and marketing contexts. It implies aggressive or persistent promotional tactics.
6. to sell illegal substances such as narcotics, usually on the street rather than
to sell illegal substances such as narcotics, usually on the street rather than through a formal business.
The police arrested three men for pushing heroin near the nightclub district.
push + illegal substance (object)
Ilan was caught pushing pills outside the music festival.
Undercover officers spent months gathering evidence on dealers who pushed cocaine in the neighborhood.
The documentary followed a former addict who started pushing drugs to support his own habit.
New laws impose harsher sentences on anyone caught pushing drugs near schools.
文法句型
push + object
用法筆記
Strongly informal and carries a criminal connotation. Not used in formal or academic writing about drug policy. The noun form for the seller is 'drug pusher'.
常見錯誤
7. to send information such as messages, alerts, or updates directly to a user's ph
to send information such as messages, alerts, or updates directly to a user's phone or computer without waiting for the user to ask for it
The weather app pushes a warning to my phone whenever a storm is approaching.
push + noun + to + device; app context
Emre turned off notifications after the game kept pushing scores to his watch every minute.
Most news websites now push breaking stories directly to readers who installed their app.
Saira's bank pushes a message to her phone whenever she makes a payment.
文法句型
push + noun (data/message)
用法筆記
Commonly used in the context of software and devices; the sender is typically an app or service, and the recipient is a device or user.
常見錯誤
8. to get close to a particular age, speed, number, or time, especially in a way th
to get close to a particular age, speed, number, or time, especially in a way that seems remarkable
The old grandfather clock in the hallway must be pushing two hundred years old.
push + age (time); informal estimation
Sophia was pushing forty-five when she finally decided to learn how to play the piano.
The temperature outside had been pushing forty degrees Celsius all afternoon.
By the time the last guest left, the party was pushing two in the morning.
The car's speedometer was pushing a hundred and thirty kilometres before the driver slowed down.
文法句型
push + number/age/time
用法筆記
Frequently used with round numbers or estimates. Often appears in present or past continuous form ('is pushing', 'was pushing') to emphasise proximity to a limit.
常見錯誤
9. to make a strong and determined effort to achieve something difficult, especiall
to make a strong and determined effort to achieve something difficult, especially by working hard and not giving up
Elena pushed herself to run an extra kilometre every morning before work.
push + oneself + to-infinitive (self-exertion)
The team pushed hard for a place in the national finals throughout the whole season.
push + for + goal; push hard
Yael pushed for promotion at the agency for nearly three years before she got it.
Despite the rain, the hikers pushed through thick mud to reach the shelter before dark.
Hui pushed herself to learn Mandarin and Cantonese during her first year in Taipei.
文法句型
push + for + goal
push + to-infinitive
push + oneself
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (verb/4) 'URGE': sense 4 describes pushing someone else to do something, while sense 9 describes the subject's own striving or self-exertion toward a goal.
常見錯誤
pushes — noun
- pushessingular
- pushesesplural
1. Firmly pressing on a person or thing to get them to change their location, using
Firmly pressing on a person or thing to get them to change their location, using force from part of your body.
Aarav gave the heavy wooden door a hard push, but it would not open.
give + object + a push
Layla felt a sudden push from behind as the crowd rushed onto the platform.
With one final push, Minh slid the suitcase into the overhead compartment on the train.
A strong push from the waves sent the small boat drifting towards the rocks near the beach.
- pull
moving something toward you instead of away
文法句型
give + noun/pronoun + a push
用法筆記
Often used with "give" as in "give someone/something a push" to describe a single action.
常見錯誤
2. A strong forward movement by a group of people, especially soldiers, travelling
A strong forward movement by a group of people, especially soldiers, travelling towards a specific place or target.
The army's push toward the capital faced heavy resistance from local fighters hiding in the hills.
push toward + place (military advance)
After weeks of waiting, the push into the mountain region finally began at sunrise.
Troops made a final push to take control of the port before the winter storms arrived.
The general ordered a rapid push along the coastal highway to cut off the enemy's supply routes.
- retreat
moving backward away from the enemy
文法句型
push + into/toward + place
push + to + infinitive (purpose)
用法筆記
Common in military and historical contexts. May also describe non-military advances such as rescue or exploration teams moving into difficult terrain.
3. A strong and determined effort by a company or group to increase sales, enter ne
A strong and determined effort by a company or group to increase sales, enter new markets, or gain an advantage over competitors.
The company's big push into Asian markets helped it grow faster than its main rivals.
push into + market — entering a new business area
Isabela led a marketing push that doubled the store's online sales in just three months.
The tech startup made an aggressive push to attract users before its competitors could catch up.
Henry's push for cheaper production methods saved the factory from closing down last winter.
文法句型
push + into + market/area
push + to + verb
用法筆記
Often appears with modifiers like "big," "aggressive," or "major" to describe the scale of effort. Subject is typically a company, brand, or team.
4. Words or actions intended to strongly encourage someone to do something they are
Words or actions intended to strongly encourage someone to do something they are hesitating to do.
Chiara's parents gave her a gentle push to apply for the scholarship before the deadline passed.
give + someone + a push to + verb (encourage)
With a little push from his teacher, Daniel decided to enter the science competition at school.
Sana needed a push from her colleagues to speak up about her idea during the meeting.
A small push from her best friend was all Yasmin needed to start her own bakery business.
- encouragement
more general support, not necessarily pressing someone to act
- nudge
a very gentle reminder or suggestion
- motivation
the internal reason or drive to do something
- discouragement
words or actions that make someone less willing to act
文法句型
give + someone + a push
need a push
用法筆記
Often used with "give" or "need" followed by a "to + verb" phrase describing the goal. Focuses on gentle influence, not force.
常見錯誤
5. A broad effort to advertise a product, service, or event through multiple forms
A broad effort to advertise a product, service, or event through multiple forms of media such as television, print, and websites.
The movie studio launched a big push with posters, TV ads, and online videos before the premiere.
launch a push — start a promotional campaign
The fashion brand's Christmas push included free gift wrapping for early shoppers in every store.
Mizuki helped plan a social media push that reached over a million young people in Southeast Asia.
The publisher's autumn push put the novel on bestseller lists within a week of its release.
文法句型
push + for + product
push + to + verb
用法筆記
Often modified by a time or channel, e.g. "Christmas push," "summer push," "social media push."
6. A short message sent automatically from a smartphone app to a user's screen to i
A short message sent automatically from a smartphone app to a user's screen to inform them about new content, updates, or alerts.
A push from the weather app warned Ilan about the approaching storm just before he left for work.
push from + app — notification source
Quinn turned off all pushes from social media apps to focus on studying for the final exams.
The news app sent a push about the earthquake only seconds after the ground stopped shaking.
Layla received a push from her bank about a large payment made on her credit card that morning.
The fitness app sends daily pushes to remind users to drink enough water throughout the day.
- notification
the general term for any app alert, not just push-based
- alert
a notification for urgent or time-sensitive information
- ping
informal term for a short notification sound or message
文法句型
receive/get a push
push + from + app
用法筆記
Shortened from "push notification." Commonly used in technology and mobile-app contexts. Often paired with verbs like "send," "receive," or "turn off."