shoving

IPA/ʃʌv/
KK[ʃˈʌvɪŋ]IPA/ʃʌv/

shoving — verb

  • shovingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • shovings3rd person singular
  • shovinging-ing form
  • shovingedpast simple

1. to use your hands, arms, or body to press against someone or something with forc

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to use your hands, arms, or body to press against someone or something with force, often in a rough or angry way

Example

People in the crowd were shoving each other to get closer to the stage.

Stop shoving! There is plenty of room for everyone if you wait your turn.

imperative: 'Stop shoving!' — common in crowded situations

Common collocations
  • shove someone aside
  • shove someone out of the way
  • shove a door open
  • shove through a crowd
Synonyms
  • push

    more general; shove suggests greater force or roughness

  • thrust

    more formal; often implies directed force with a purpose

  • jostle

    to push against someone in a crowd, usually not intentional

Antonyms
  • pull

    to move something toward yourself instead of away

Grammar Patterns

shove + noun/pronoun + adverb/preposition

Usage Note

This sense often appears in descriptions of crowds, arguments, or emergency situations. The intransitive form ('Stop shoving!') is very common in spoken warnings.

Common Mistakes

He shove the door open.
He shoved the door open.
Remember that 'shove' is a regular verb: shove → shoved → shoved. The -ing form is 'shoving'.

2. to put something into a place quickly and carelessly, without taking time to arr

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to put something into a place quickly and carelessly, without taking time to arrange it properly

Example

Daichi shoved the dirty plates into the dishwasher and ran out the door.

shove + object + into + noun phrase — typical pattern for this sense

Instead of folding the blankets, Gabriela just shoved them onto a shelf.

Common collocations
  • shove something into a bag
  • shove something under the bed
  • shove something in a drawer
  • shove clothes into a cupboard
Synonyms
  • stuff

    more informal; suggests filling a space tightly

  • tuck

    to put something into a small space neatly or carefully (opposite tone)

  • thrust

    suggests a quick, forceful movement with your hand

Antonyms
  • arrange

    to put things in a neat, organised way

Grammar Patterns

shove + noun/pronoun + adverb/prepositional phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used with a prepositional phrase (into, under, onto, in) that indicates the destination. The object is often something that should be treated with more care — clothes, papers, dishes, etc.

Common Mistakes

I shoved the document carefully in the folder.
I shoved the document into the folder.
'Shove' implies carelessness, so it sounds odd with 'carefully'. Use a neutral verb like 'put' or 'slip' if you want to show caution.

3. to slide your body along a seat, bench, or row so that another person can sit be

3.verbintransitiveA2
Definition

to slide your body along a seat, bench, or row so that another person can sit beside you

Example

Folake said, 'Could you shove over a little so I can sit down?'

phrasal use: 'shove over' — common in friendly requests

The children all shoved up so their grandmother could fit on the bench.

Common collocations
  • shove over
  • shove up
  • shove along
Synonyms
  • move over

    more neutral and common; less informal than 'shove over'

  • scoot over

    even more informal, often used with children

  • squeeze up

    British English; suggests making space in a tight spot

Grammar Patterns

shove + adverb (over/along/up)

Usage Note

Almost always used with an adverb (over, up, along) that indicates direction. This sense is typical of casual, spoken English — on a bus, at a dining table, or in a cinema. The base verb 'move over' or 'scoot over' are more neutral alternatives.

shoving — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe applying force to move something, but they differ in strength and intention. 'Push' is the most neutral and general — you push a door, a button, or a person without necessarily implying roughness. 'Shove' is a much rougher push, done with sudden force and often in anger or impatience: you shove someone out of your way. 'Thrust' is more deliberate and directed, often with a pointed object or a sharp movement: you thrust a knife or thrust your hand forward. 'Jostle' describes the accidental or semi-accidental pushing that happens in a crowd — people jostle each other on a packed train without meaning to fight. Use 'shove' when you want to emphasise force and lack of care, 'push' for everyday neutral situations, 'thrust' for a quick forward motion, and 'jostle' for crowded conditions.

push ↗shove ↗thrust ↗jostle ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • push and shove
  • shove one's way through
  • shove someone aside
  • shove off

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'shove' comes from Old English 'scūfan' (to push away, thrust), which traces back to a Proto-Germanic root '*skeubaną' meaning to push or thrust. This root is related to German 'schieben' (to push) and Dutch 'schuiven' (to slide). The noun form appeared in Middle English, and the '-ing' form 'shoving' has been used since the 14th century to describe the act of pushing roughly. Over time, the word developed the specialised sense of 'putting something carelessly' and 'moving along a seat to make room'.