[singular + singular or plural verb]newspapers and magazines
the local/national/foreign press
the popular/tabloid press(= newspapers with a lot of pictures and stories about famous people)
the music/sporting press(= newspapers and magazines about music/sport)
The mainstream press is ignoring this story.
Unlike the American, the British press operates on a national scale.
in the pressThe case has been widely reported in the press.
the freedom of the Press/press freedom(= the freedom to report any events and express opinions)
The event is bound to attract wide press coverage(= it will be written about in many newspapers).
According to French press reports, three people have been killed.
a White House press briefing
see alsogutter press
Extra Examples
He issued a press statement insisting on his innocence.
He kept a scrapbook containing press cuttings of his concerts.
The right-wing press tried to stir up prejudice against immigrants.
There was no mention of the incident in the national press.
She is constantly being attacked by the press.
Topics TV, radio and newsb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
foreign
international
local
…
verb + press
alert
brief
tell
…
press + noun
briefing
release
statement
…
preposition
in the press
phrases
get a good, bad, etc. press
get good, bad, etc. press
have a good, bad, etc. press
…
See full entry
the press, the Press
[singular + singular or plural verb]the journalists and photographers who work for newspapers and magazines
The Press was/were not allowed to attend the trial.
She has been harassed by the press, who desperately need a story.
He told the press that there had been ‘further progress’.
She told them not to talk to the press.
Extra Examples
Did the senator deliberately mislead the press?
She showed the doorman her press pass.
Someone must have alerted the press that she was going to be there.
The company's press office did not return the call.
The president was briefed before meeting the press.
The spokesman addressed an international press corps.
They introduced measures including muzzling the press and illegal detainment.
We got to sit in the press box since my dad would be writing about the game.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
foreign
international
local
…
verb + press
alert
brief
tell
…
press + noun
briefing
release
statement
…
preposition
in the press
phrases
get a good, bad, etc. press
get good, bad, etc. press
have a good, bad, etc. press
…
See full entry
[singular, uncountable]the type or amount of reports that newspapers write about somebody/something
The airline has had a bad press recently (= journalists have written unpleasant things about it).
The demonstration got very little press.
His latest novel didn't get (a) very good press(= was not praised in the media).
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
foreign
international
local
…
verb + press
alert
brief
tell
…
press + noun
briefing
release
statement
…
preposition
in the press
phrases
get a good, bad, etc. press
get good, bad, etc. press
have a good, bad, etc. press
…
See full entry
publishing/printing
[countable, uncountable]a machine for printing books, newspapers, etc.; the process of printing them
We were able to watch the books rolling off the presses.
These prices are correct at the time of going to press.
a story that is hot off the press(= has just appeared in the newspapers)
see alsoprinting press,stop press
Extra Examples
The newspaper goes to press at 6 o'clock.
The presses are already rolling.
Their new book is in press.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
printing
verb + press
go to
press + verb
roll
preposition
in press
phrases
hot off the press
hot off the presses
stop the press
…
See full entry
[countable]a business that prints and publishes books
Oxford University Press
equipment for pressing
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[countable](especially in compounds)a piece of equipment that is used for creating pressure on things, to make them flat or to get liquid from them
a trouser press
a garlic press
see alsoFrench press™,garlic press
act of pushing
[countable, usually singular]an act of pushing something with your hand or with a tool that you are holding
He gave the bell another press.
Those shirts need a press (= with an iron).
crowd
[singular]a large number of people or things competing for space or movementsynonymthrong
the press of bodies all moving the same way
Among the press of cars he glimpsed a taxi.
cupboard
[countable](Irish English, Scottish English)a large cupboard, usually with shelves, for holding clothes, books, etc.
Word Originnoun Middle English: from Old French presse (noun), presser (verb), from Latin pressare ‘keep pressing’, frequentative of premere.
see alsobench press,body press
press
verb
/pres/
/pres/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they press
/pres/
/pres/
he / she / it presses
/ˈpresɪz/
/ˈpresɪz/
past simple pressed
/prest/
/prest/
past participle pressed
/prest/
/prest/
-ing form pressing
/ˈpresɪŋ/
/ˈpresɪŋ/
IdiomsPhrasal Verbs
jump to other results
push
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[transitive, intransitive]to push part of a device, etc. in order to make it work
press somethingto press a button/key
press something + adj.He pressed the lid firmly shut.
(+ adv./prep.)Press here to open.
She pressed down hard on the gas pedal.
Extra Examples
Press the button marked ‘Stop’.
Press any key to restart your computer.
Only press the buzzer if you have the right answer.
I pressed hard on the doorbell.
Topics Engineeringb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
firmly
forcefully
hard
…
preposition
against
into
on
…
phrases
press something flat
press something open
press something shut
…
See full entry
[transitive, intransitive]to push something closely against something; to be pushed in this way
press something/somebody/yourself against somethingShe pressed her face against the window.
press something to somethingHe pressed a handkerchief to his nose.
press something togetherShe pressed her lips together.
press somethingHer lips softly pressed my cheek.
press against somethingHis body was pressing against hers.
press (down) (on something)She pressed down harder on the paper.
Extra Examples
He pressed up closer against the wall, terrified of being seen.
She curled up, her knees pressed tightly to her chest.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
firmly
forcefully
hard
…
preposition
against
into
on
…
phrases
press something flat
press something open
press something shut
…
See full entry
[transitive]press something into/onto somethingto put something in a place by pushing it
He pressed a coin into her hand and moved on.
She pressed a finger into the dough.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
firmly
forcefully
hard
…
preposition
against
into
on
…
phrases
press something flat
press something open
press something shut
…
See full entry
[transitive]press somethingto put gentle pressure on somebody’s hand or arm, especially to show care or kind feelings
He gently pressed her arm, then left.
[intransitive]+ adv./prep.(of people in a crowd)to move in the direction mentioned by pushing
The photographers pressed around the royal visitors.
(figurative)A host of unwelcome thoughts were pressing in on him.
The crowd pressed forward.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
firmly
forcefully
hard
…
preposition
against
into
on
…
phrases
press something flat
press something open
press something shut
…
See full entry
try to persuade
[transitive]to make strong efforts to persuade or force somebody to do somethingsynonympush,urge
press somebodyIf pressed, he will admit that he knew about the affair.
press somebody for somethingThe bank is pressing us for repayment of the loan.
press somebody to do somethingThey are pressing us to make a quick decision.
press somebody into (doing) somethingDon't let yourself be pressed into doing something you don't like.
press somebody on somethingI did not press him further on the issue.
+ speech‘Are you sure?’ she pressed gently.
Extra Examples
When pressed by journalists, he refused to comment.
He was pressed into giving her a job.
Pressed by the opposition to resign, he stood firm.
We will continue to press the government to provide details of the agreement.
Topics Discussion and agreementc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
strongly
consistently
continually
…
verb + press
continue to
preposition
for
on
See full entry
point/claim/case
[transitive]press somethingto express or repeat something with force
I don't want to press the point, but you do owe me $200.
She is still pressing her claim for compensation.
They were determined to press their case at the highest level.
Extra Examples
In the interview he strongly pressed his point of view.
The party will continue to press the case for a new electoral system.
make flat/smooth
[transitive]to make something flat or smooth by using force or putting something heavy on top
press somethingpressed flowers (= pressed between the pages of a book)
press something + adj.Press the soil flat with the back of a spade.
[transitive]press somethingto make clothes smooth using a hot ironsynonymiron
My suit needs pressing.
his immaculately pressed suit
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryphrases
immaculately pressed
neatly pressed
See full entry
fruit/vegetables
[transitive]press somethingto get the juice out of fruit or vegetables by using force or weightTopics Cooking and eatingc1
metal
[transitive]to make something from a material, using pressure
press somethingto press a CD
press something from/out of somethingThe car bodies are pressed out of sheets of metal.
Word Originverb Middle English: from Old French presse (noun), presser (verb), from Latin pressare ‘keep pressing’, frequentative of premere. press somebody/something into service. late 16th cent.: alteration (by association with press, verb) of obsolete prest ‘pay given on enlistment, enlistment by such payment’, from Old French prest ‘loan, advance pay’, based on Latin praestare ‘provide’.
Idioms
bring/press/lay/prefer charges against somebody
(law)to accuse somebody formally of a crime so that there can be a trial in court
Police have brought a charge of dangerous driving against the man.
Many victims of crime are reluctant to press charges against their attackers.
She laid charges against the firm for not complying with the regulations.
Topics Law and justicec2
press all the (right) buttons(especially British English)
(also push all the (right) buttonsBritish and North American English)
(informal)to do exactly the right things to please somebody
a new satirical comedy show that presses all the right buttons
press (the) flesh
(informal)(of a famous person or politician)to say hello to people by shaking hands
press something home
to get as much advantage as possible from a situation by attacking or arguing in a determined way
to press home an attack/an argument/a point
Simon saw she was hesitating and pressed home his advantage.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2
press somebody/something into service
to use somebody/something for a purpose that they were not trained or intended for because there is nobody or nothing else available
Every type of boat was pressed into service to rescue passengers from the sinking ferry.
press/push the panic button
to react in a sudden or extreme way to something unexpected that has frightened you
The prime minister pressed the panic button yesterday as Britain’s economy plunged deeper into crisis.
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