pressure
pressure
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "pressure" is /ˈpreʃər/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
pres - /pres/
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
/r/ - alveolar trill (or approximant in some dialects)
/e/ - near-close front unrounded vowel
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
sure - /ˈʃər/
/ʃ/ - voiceless postalveolar fricative
/ə/ - mid-central vowel (schwa)
/r/ - alveolar trill (or approximant in some dialects)
Word Form Variations
pressure (noun): This is the base form, referring to the force exerted on something, or a sense of strain. It can be used both countably and uncountably. For example: "The pressure is building." (uncountable) or "I felt several pressures on me at once." (countable).
pressures (noun, plural): Refers to multiple instances of pressure. For example: "The government faces many pressures."
pressured (verb, past tense/past participle): Means to have applied pressure to someone or something. For example: "He was pressured to resign."
pressuring (verb, present participle/gerund): The act of applying pressure. For example: "They are pressuring the company to change its policies."
pressurize (verb): To increase the pressure within something. For example: "They pressurized the cabin."
pressurized (verb, past tense/past participle): Having had the pressure increased. For example: "The plane's cabin is pressurized."
pressurizing (verb, present participle/gerund): The act of increasing pressure. For example: "The engineers are pressurizing the vessel."
There isn't a standard adjectival form directly derived from "pressure" itself. Instead, we typically use adjectives like "high-pressure," "low-pressure," or "under pressure" to describe situations involving pressure.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: The force exerted on a surface, per unit area. This can be physical (like air pressure) or metaphorical (like the pressure to succeed).
Synonyms: Force, stress, strain, tension, duress, urgency, weight, burden
Antonyms: Relaxation, ease, relief, slack, freedom, leisure
Definition: A sense of strain or urgency caused by demands on one's time, resources, or emotions.
Synonyms: Stress, strain, tension, anxiety, worry, burden, onus, exigency
Antonyms: Calm, tranquility, peace, serenity, composure, equanimity
Verb:
Definition: To attempt to persuade or coerce someone to do something.
Synonyms: Coerce, urge, persuade, influence, sway, impel, goad, push, strong-arm
Antonyms: Encourage, support, allow, permit, liberate, free
Definition: To apply physical force to something.
Synonyms: Compress, depress, squeeze, compact, tamp, flatten
Antonyms: Release, expand, inflate, loosen
Adjective: (While "pressure" isn't typically used as a standalone adjective, we can create adjectival phrases)
Definition: (In phrases like "high-pressure") Characterized by a high degree of force or urgency.
Synonyms: Intense, demanding, stressful, critical, urgent, exigent
Antonyms: Relaxed, easygoing, lenient, calm, tranquil
Adverb: (Similarly, "pressure" isn't a standard adverb, but we can consider adverbial phrases)
Definition: (In phrases like "under pressure") Experiencing stress or strain.
Synonyms: Stressfully, tensely, anxiously, worriedly, urgently
Antonyms: Calmly, easily, relaxedly, serenely, peacefully
It's important to note that the adjectival and adverbial forms are usually expressed through phrases using "pressure" rather than direct derivations.
Examples of Use
Noun (Force/Stress):
Science/Technology: "The atmospheric pressure dropped suddenly, indicating an approaching storm." (Weather report)
Politics: "The President is facing increasing pressure from both sides of the aisle." (Newspaper article)
Business: "The company is under pressure to deliver strong quarterly results." (Financial news)
Health: "High blood pressure is a serious health concern." (Medical website)
Social Issues: "There's societal pressure to conform to certain beauty standards." (Online magazine article)
Everyday Life: "I'm feeling a lot of pressure at work lately." (Conversation)
Noun (Strain/Urgency):
Psychology: "The constant pressure to succeed can lead to burnout." (Psychology journal)
Education: "Students face immense pressure during exam season." (University newspaper)
Relationships: "The pressure to get married can be overwhelming." (Blog post)
Arts/Entertainment: "The film's plot builds suspense and pressure effectively." (Movie review)
Public Discourse: "The pressure on athletes to perform perfectly is immense." (Sports commentary)
Verb (Persuade/Coerce):
Politics: "Opponents are pressuring the candidate to reveal their tax returns." (News article)
Business: "Sales teams are pressured to meet quotas." (Company memo)
Social Dynamics: "She felt pressured to go to the party, even though she didn't want to." (Novel)
Legal: "Witnesses can be pressured to give false testimony." (Court transcript)
Verb (Apply Force):
Engineering: "Technicians are pressurizing the pipeline." (Industrial report)
Medicine: "The doctor applied pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding." (Medical textbook)
Adjective/Adverbial Phrases:
Science: "This is a high-pressure system." (Weather forecast)
Business: "The team is working under pressure to meet the deadline." (Project update)
Sports: "He performs well under pressure." (Sports analysis)
Everyday Life: "I feel pressured to keep up with the latest trends." (Social media post)
These are just a few examples, and "pressure" is a word that appears frequently in many different contexts. It's a versatile word that captures a range of experiences, from physical forces to emotional burdens. Because it's so common, it's difficult to pinpoint exact sources for each example—they are drawn from the kind of information one encounters daily in news, entertainment, and general conversation.
10 Famous Quotes Using Pressure
"Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing." — Chuck Noll
"The greater the pressure, the greater the treasure." — Matshona Dhliwayo
"Courage is grace under pressure." — Ernest Hemingway
"Pressure is a privilege. It only comes to those who earn it." — Billie Jean King
"There is no greatness without pressure." — Thomas Carlyle
"Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon. Pressure creates diamonds." — Paul Brandt
"The pressure of adversity does not affect the mind of the brave man; it is more powerful than external circumstances." — Seneca
"Sometimes the best motivation is pressure—when there’s no other option but to rise." — Michael Jordan
"Pressure is the shadow of opportunity." — Robin Sharma
"Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion; you sink to the level of your training." — Archilochus (ancient Greek poet, often paraphrased in military contexts)
Etymology
The word "pressure" comes from the Latin word pressura. Think of it like this: pressura is what you get when you press something. It's the noun form of the verb premere, which means "to press."
So, the core idea is pressing. Imagine physically pressing down on something – that's the fundamental image behind the word.
The first recorded use of "pressure" in English was in the 1400s. Back then, it primarily referred to the act of pressing. It wasn't until the 1600s that the word started to be used to describe the force exerted by that pressing, which is the meaning we're most familiar with today.
So, over time, the meaning of "pressure" evolved. It started with the simple action of pressing, then it moved to the force resulting from that action, and finally, it also came to include the more abstract sense of strain or stress.
In short:
Latin Root: premere (to press) -> pressura (a pressing)
Early English: "pressure" referred to the act of pressing.
Later English: "pressure" came to mean the force exerted by pressing, and also the feeling of stress.
It's a good example of how words can change and develop their meanings over time, while still holding onto a core idea.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Pressure
Common Phrases & Usages:
Under pressure: This is extremely common, meaning experiencing stress or strain. ("He works well under pressure.")
Pressure is on: Similar to "under pressure," but often implies a deadline or urgency. ("The pressure is on to finish the project on time.")
Apply pressure: To try to influence someone. ("They applied pressure to the board to change its policies.")
Take the pressure off: To relieve someone of stress or responsibility. ("Hiring more staff will take the pressure off the existing team.")
High pressure: Describes a situation with lots of stress or demands. ("It's a high-pressure job.")
Pressure cooker: A metaphorical situation of intense stress and tension. ("The office environment is a pressure cooker.")
Why "Pressure" Can Be Tricky for Idioms:
"Pressure" is already quite descriptive. Many idioms rely on metaphor and figurative language, but "pressure" often describes a literal or easily understood figurative force. This makes it less likely to be used in highly symbolic ways.
Supplementing with Synonyms & Creative Options:
Since "pressure" can be a bit literal, let's explore some related ideas and get creative:
Idioms of Stress/Strain:
"At the end of your rope" (feeling overwhelmed)
"Up against it" (facing difficulties)
"Feeling the heat" (under intense scrutiny)
"Burning the candle at both ends" (working too hard)
Phrases about Influence:
"Twisting someone's arm" (persuading forcefully)
"Pulling strings" (using influence behind the scenes)
"Putting the squeeze on" (exerting pressure for a specific outcome)
Original/Lesser-Known Options:
"Pressure points": Figurative areas of vulnerability. ("They targeted the company's pressure points in the negotiations.")
"The weight of expectations": The burden of what others expect.
"A tense atmosphere": Describes a situation filled with stress.
While "pressure" itself might not be the most idiom-rich word, exploring related concepts gives us a wider range of expressions to capture similar ideas!
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of pressure from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
