<p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to act upon with steadily applied weight or force.</li><li>to move by weight or force in a certain direction or into a certain position: The crowd pressed him into a corner.</li><li>to compress or squeeze, as to alter in shape or size: He pressed the clay into a ball.</li><li>to weigh heavily upon; subject to pressure.</li><li>to hold closely, as in an embrace; clasp: He pressed her in his arms.</li><li>to flatten or make smooth, especially by ironing: to press clothes; to press flowers in the leaves of a book.</li><li>to extract juice, sugar, etc., from by pressure: to press grapes.</li><li>to squeeze out or express, as juice: to press the juice from grapes.</li><li>to beset or harass; afflict: He was pressed by problems on all sides.</li></ul><p><strong>Synonyms</strong></p><ul><li>besiege</li><li>assail</li><li>torment</li><li>worry</li><li>harass</li><li>annoy</li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>an act of pressing; pressure.</li><li>the state of being pressed.</li><li>printed publications collectively, especially newspapers and periodicals.</li><li>all the media and agencies that print, broadcast, or gather and transmit news, including newspapers, newsmagazines, radio and television news bureaus, and wire services.</li><li>the editorial employees, taken collectively, of these media and agencies.</li><li>a group of news reporters, or of news reporters and news photographers: The press are in the outer office, waiting for a statement.</li><li>the consensus of the general critical commentary or the amount of coverage accorded a person, thing, or event, especially in newspapers and periodicals (often preceded by good or bad): The play received a good press. The minister's visit got a bad press.</li><li>printing press.</li><li>an establishment for printing books, magazines, etc.</li><li>the process or art of printing.</li><li>any of various devices or machines for exerting pressure, stamping, or crushing.</li><li>a crowd, throng, or multitude.</li><li>pressure or urgency, as of affairs or business.</li></ul>