Ask Difference

Press vs. Pressure — What's the Difference?

By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 6, 2024
Press refers to applying a physical force or media industry, whereas pressure is continuous physical or psychological force exerted on something or someone.
Press vs. Pressure — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Press and Pressure

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Key Differences

Press often denotes the act of applying physical force, like pressing a button, or can represent the news media collectively. Pressure, on the other hand, refers to the ongoing force exerted on an object, like air pressure, or a sense of stress and urgency.
In mechanical contexts, press involves the action of pushing down or flattening objects, while pressure is the continuous force per unit area. For instance, a hydraulic press exerts a specific force, whereas pressure in a hydraulic system is the result of that force.
In media, the term press represents journalists and publications, whereas pressure might refer to the influence or stress put on the media or by the media on entities.
Socially, press can mean urging someone to do something, like "pressing for answers," while pressure is the psychological stress someone might feel due to various external demands or expectations.
Press can also be used in sports to describe offensive strategies to pressure opponents into making errors. Pressure here becomes the psychological and physical response to those tactics.
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Comparison Chart

Physical Act

Applying force by pressing or flattening
Continuous force exerted over an area

Mechanical Use

Tool or machine exerting downward force
Force per unit area in fluids or gases

Media Usage

Collective term for journalism
Influence exerted by or on journalists

Social Meaning

Urging someone for action
Psychological stress from external demands

Sports Context

Offensive strategy in games
Mental/physical response to that strategy

Compare with Definitions

Press

Persuade or urge someone to do something.
She pressed him to attend the meeting.

Pressure

Continuous physical force exerted on an object.
The balloon burst due to excess air pressure.

Press

Print or publish, especially newspapers.
The company will press new magazines next week.

Pressure

Mental stress or anxiety.
He felt pressure before the final exams.

Press

Apply pressure on something.
He pressed the elevator button.

Pressure

Persuasion or influence to act in a certain way.
The team is under pressure to deliver results.

Press

Gather journalists and photographers.
The press covered the sports event extensively.

Pressure

Atmospheric force per unit area.
The weather forecast mentioned a drop in air pressure.

Press

Flatten or smooth out fabric.
She pressed her dress before the interview.

Pressure

Force exerted in a specific context like fluid systems.
The hydraulic system operates under high pressure.

Press

To exert steady weight or force against
An indentation where the rock pressed the ground.

Pressure

Pressure (symbol: p or P) is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. Gauge pressure (also spelled gage pressure) is the pressure relative to the ambient pressure.

Press

To move by applying pressure
Press a piano key.
Press one's face into a pillow.

Pressure

Continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it
The gate was buckling under the pressure of the crowd outside

Press

To squeeze or clasp in fondness or concern
Pressed her hand before leaving.

Pressure

The use of persuasion or intimidation to make someone do something
Backbenchers put pressure on the government to provide safeguards
The many pressures on girls to worry about their looks

Press

To squeeze the juice or other contents from
Press lemons.

Pressure

Attempt to persuade or coerce (someone) into doing something
It might be possible to pressure him into resigning
She pressured her son to accept a job offer from the bank

Press

To extract (juice, for example) by squeezing or compressing.

Pressure

The act of pressing.

Press

To reshape or make compact by applying steady force; compress
Pressed the clay in a mold.

Pressure

The condition of being pressed.

Press

To iron (clothing, for example).

Pressure

The application of continuous force by one body on another that it is touching; compression.

Press

To make (a sound recording), originally by pressing (a vinyl phonograph record) under pressure in a mold.

Pressure

Abbr. P(Physics)Force applied over a surface, measured as force per unit area.

Press

To bear down on or attack
The army pressed the rebels for months.

Pressure

(Meteorology) Atmospheric pressure.

Press

To carry on or advance vigorously (an attack, for instance).

Pressure

A compelling or constraining influence, such as persuasion or negative attitudes, on the mind or will
Felt pressure to conform.
Peer-group pressure.

Press

To place in trying or distressing circumstances
Are you pressed for money?.

Pressure

An influence acting as a source of distress or hardship
Economic pressures forcing people to work two jobs.

Press

To insist upon or put forward insistently
Press a claim.
Press an argument.

Pressure

(Sports) Sustained, effective play that puts an opponent at a disadvantage
Defensive pressure forced the quarterback to throw interceptions.

Press

To try to influence or persuade, as by insistent arguments; pressure or entreat
He pressed her for a reply.

Pressure

The condition of being subjected to physical, mental, social, or economic distress
Doesn't work well under pressure.

Press

To insist that someone accept (something). Often used with on or upon
Was given to pressing peculiar gifts upon his nieces.

Pressure

A physical sensation produced by compression of a part of the body.

Press

(Sports) To lift (a weight) to a position above the head without moving the legs.

Pressure

(Archaic) A mark made by application of force or weight; an impression.

Press

To exert force or pressure
Felt the backpack pressing on her shoulders.

Pressure

To force or try to force, as by influence or persuasion
The salesman pressured us to buy the car right away.

Press

To be worrisome or depressing; weigh heavily
Guilt pressed upon his conscience.

Pressure

To pressurize.

Press

To advance eagerly; move forward urgently
We pressed through the crowd to get to the bus.

Pressure

To pressure-cook.

Press

To assemble closely and in large numbers; crowd
Fans pressed around the movie star.

Pressure

A pressing; a force applied to a surface.
Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding.

Press

To continue a course of action, especially in spite of difficulties
Decided to press ahead with the performance even with a sore throat.

Pressure

A contrasting force or impulse of any kind
The pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization.

Press

To require haste or urgent action
Matters that have not stopped pressing.

Pressure

Distress.
She has felt pressure lately because her boss expects her to get the job done by the first.

Press

To employ urgent persuasion or entreaty
The supervisor has been pressing to get us to finish the project sooner.

Pressure

Urgency
The pressure of business

Press

To iron clothes or other material.

Pressure

(obsolete) Impression; stamp; character impressed.

Press

(Sports) To raise or lift a weight in a press.

Pressure

(physics) The amount of force that is applied over a given area divided by the size of this area; force per unit area.

Press

(Basketball) To employ a press.

Pressure

(transitive) To encourage or heavily exert force or influence.
Do not let anyone pressure you into buying something you do not want.

Press

(Sports) In golf, to try to hit long or risky shots, typically with unsuccessful results.

Pressure

The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as, a pressure of the hand.

Press

To force into service in the army or navy; impress.

Pressure

A contrasting force or impulse of any kind; as, the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization.
Where the pressure of danger was not felt.

Press

To take arbitrarily or by force, especially for public use.

Pressure

Affliction; distress; grievance.
My people's pressures are grievous.
In the midst of his great troubles and pressures.

Press

To use in a manner different from the usual or intended, especially in an emergency.

Pressure

Urgency; as, the pressure of business.

Press

Any of various machines or devices that apply pressure
A cider press.

Pressure

Impression; stamp; character impressed.
All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past.

Press

A printing press.

Pressure

The action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force; a force in the nature of a thrust, distributed over a surface, often estimated with reference to the amount upon a unit's area.

Press

A place or establishment where matter is printed
Sent the book's files to the press.

Pressure

Electro-motive force.

Press

A publishing company
Which press has acquired that manuscript?.

Pressure

The force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit);
The compressed gas exerts an increased pressure

Press

The communications media considered as a whole, especially the agencies that collect, publish, transmit, or broadcast news and other information to the public
Freedom of the press.
Got a job writing for the press.

Pressure

A force that compels;
The public brought pressure to bear on the government

Press

News or other information disseminated to the public in printed, broadcast, or electronic form
Kept the scandal out of the press.

Pressure

The act of pressing; the exertion of pressure;
He gave the button a press
He used pressure to stop the bleeding
At the pressing of a button

Press

The people involved in the media, as news reporters and broadcasters
Took questions from the press after her speech.

Pressure

The state of urgently demanding notice or attention;
The press of business matters

Press

The kind or extent of coverage a person or event receives in the media
"Like the pool hall and the tattoo parlor, the motorcycle usually gets a bad press" (R.Z. Sheppard).

Pressure

The somatic sensation of pressure;
The sensitivity of his skin to pressure and temperature was normal

Press

A large gathering; a crowd
Lost our friend in the press of people.

Pressure

An oppressive condition of physical or mental or social or economic distress

Press

The act of gathering in large numbers or of pushing forward
The press of the crowd broke the gates.

Pressure

To cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means :
She forced him to take a job in the city
He squeezed her for information

Press

An act of pressing down or applying pressure
With the press of a button.

Pressure

Exert pressure on someone through threats

Press

The haste or urgency of business or matters
The press of the day's events.

Press

The set of proper creases in a garment or fabric, formed by ironing.

Press

Chiefly Scots and Irish An upright closet or case used for storing clothing, books, or other articles.

Press

(Sports) A lift in weightlifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder level and then steadily pushed straight overhead without movement of the legs.

Press

(Basketball) An aggressive defense tactic in which players guard opponents closely, often over the entire court.

Press

Conscription or impressment into service, especially into the army or navy.

Press

(Obsolete) An official warrant for impressing men into military service.

Press

An instance of applying pressure; an instance of pressing.

Press

(countable) A device used to apply pressure to an item.
A flower press

Press

(countable) A printing machine.
Stop the presses!

Press

The print-based media (both the people and the newspapers).
According to a member of the press
This article appeared in the press.

Press

(countable) A publisher.

Press

An enclosed storage space (e.g. closet, cupboard).
Put the cups in the press.
Put the ironing in the linen press.

Press

An exercise in which weight is forced away from the body by extension of the arms or legs.

Press

An additional bet in a golf match that duplicates an existing (usually losing) wager in value, but begins even at the time of the bet.
He can even the match with a press.

Press

(countable) Pure, unfermented grape juice.
I would like some Concord press with my meal tonight.

Press

A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy.

Press

(obsolete) A crowd.

Press

(psychology) In personology, any environmental factor that arouses a need in the individual.

Press

(ambitransitive) To exert weight or force against, to act upon with force or weight; to exert pressure upon.

Press

To activate a button or key by exerting a downward or forward force on it, and then releasing it.

Press

(transitive) To compress, squeeze.
To press fruit for the purpose of extracting the juice

Press

(transitive) To clasp, hold in an embrace.

Press

(transitive) To reduce to a particular shape or form by pressure, especially flatten or smooth.
To press cloth with a clothes-iron
To press a hat

Press

To flatten a selected area of fabric using an iron with an up-and-down, not sliding, motion, so as to avoid disturbing adjacent areas.

Press

(transitive) To drive or thrust by pressure, to force in a certain direction.
To press a crowd back

Press

To weigh upon, oppress, trouble.

Press

(transitive) To force to a certain end or result; to urge strongly.

Press

To try to force (something upon someone).
To press the Bible on an audience

Press

(transitive) To hasten, urge onward.
To press a horse in a race

Press

(transitive) To urge, beseech, entreat.

Press

(transitive) To lay stress upon.

Press

(ambitransitive) To throng, crowd.

Press

To print.

Press

To force into service, particularly into naval service.

Press

An East Indian insectivore (Tupaia ferruginea). It is arboreal in its habits, and has a bushy tail. The fur is soft, and varies from rusty red to maroon and to brownish black.

Press

A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy.
I have misused the king's press.

Press

An apparatus or machine by which any substance or body is pressed, squeezed, stamped, or shaped, or by which an impression of a body is taken; sometimes, the place or building containing a press or presses.

Press

Specifically, a printing press.

Press

The art or business of printing and publishing; hence, printed publications, taken collectively, more especially newspapers or the persons employed in writing for them; as, a free press is a blessing, a licentious press is a curse.

Press

An upright case or closet for the safe keeping of articles; as, a clothes press.

Press

The act of pressing or thronging forward.
In their throng and press to that last hold.

Press

Urgent demands of business or affairs; urgency; as, a press of engagements.

Press

A multitude of individuals crowded together; crowd of single things; a throng.
They could not come nigh unto him for the press.

Press

To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress.
To peaceful peasant to the wars is pressed.

Press

To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to bear upon; to squeeze; to compress; as, we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers, or arms; we are pressed in a crowd.
Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together.

Press

To squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something.
From sweet kernels pressed,She tempers dulcet creams.
And I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

Press

To squeeze in or with suitable instruments or apparatus, in order to compact, make dense, or smooth; as, to press cotton bales, paper, etc.; to smooth by ironing; as, to press clothes.

Press

To embrace closely; to hug.
Leucothoe shook at these alarms,And pressed Palemon closer in her arms.

Press

To oppress; to bear hard upon.
Press not a falling man too far.

Press

To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger.

Press

To exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel.
Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

Press

To try to force (something upon some one); to urge or inculcate with earnestness or importunity; to enforce; as, to press divine truth on an audience.
He pressed a letter upon me within this hour.
Be sure to press upon him every motive.

Press

To drive with violence; to hurry; to urge on; to ply hard; as, to press a horse in a race.
The posts . . . went cut, being hastened and pressed on, by the king's commandment.

Press

To exert pressure; to bear heavily; to push, crowd, or urge with steady force.

Press

To move on with urging and crowding; to make one's way with violence or effort; to bear onward forcibly; to crowd; to throng; to encroach.
They pressed upon him for to touch him.

Press

To urge with vehemence or importunity; to exert a strong or compelling influence; as, an argument presses upon the judgment.

Press

Newspaper writers and photographers

Press

The state of urgently demanding notice or attention;
The press of business matters

Press

The gathering and publishing of news in the form of newspapers or magazines

Press

A machine used for printing

Press

A dense crowd of people

Press

A tall piece of furniture that provides storage space for clothes; has a door and rails or hooks for hanging clothes

Press

Clamp to prevent wooden rackets from warping when not in use

Press

Any machine that exerts pressure to form or shape or cut materials or extract liquids or compress solids

Press

A weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then smoothly lifted overhead

Press

The act of pressing; the exertion of pressure;
He gave the button a press
He used pressure to stop the bleeding
At the pressing of a button

Press

Exert pressure or force to or upon;
He pressed down on the boards
Press your thumb on this spot

Press

Force or impel in an indicated direction;
I urged him to finish his studies

Press

To be oppressive or burdensome;
Weigh heavily on the mind
Something pressed on his mind

Press

Place between two surfaces and apply weight or pressure;
Pressed flowers

Press

Squeeze or press together;
She compressed her lips
The spasm contracted the muscle

Press

Crowd closely;
The crowds pressed along the street

Press

Create by pressing;
Press little holes into the soft clay

Press

Be urgent;
This is a pressing problem

Press

Exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for;
The liberal party pushed for reforms
She is crusading for women's rights
The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate

Press

Press from a plastic;
Press a record

Press

Make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby;
`Now push hard,' said the doctor to the woman

Press

Lift weights;
This guy can press 300 pounds

Press

Ask for or request earnestly;
The prophet bid all people to become good persons

Common Curiosities

Is "pressure" limited to physical phenomena?

No, it encompasses psychological stress, influence, and atmospheric conditions too.

Can "pressure" refer to psychological stress?

Yes, pressure often describes stress or mental tension from external factors.

Is "press" only used in a media context?

No, it also refers to applying physical force and urging someone to act.

Are "press" and "pressure" used interchangeably?

No, "press" is about the act or force application, while "pressure" is the continuous state of force.

Does "press" have a mechanical meaning?

Yes, it's also used to describe machines applying downward force.

Can "press" be used to mean flattening fabric?

Yes, it's commonly used to describe ironing or smoothing fabric.

Is "press" used in sports terminology?

Yes, "press" is a strategy where a team aggressively defends to force errors from opponents.

Is "pressure" relevant in scientific contexts?

Yes, especially in physics and engineering, where it measures force per unit area in fluids or gases.

Can "pressure" describe social influence?

Yes, "pressure" often describes social or peer pressure that influences behavior.

Can "press" mean a group of journalists?

Yes, "the press" typically refers to the collective body of journalists.

Does "press" imply urgency?

Often, yes. It can imply urgency when urging or persuading someone.

Is "pressure" used differently in engineering and psychology?

Yes, in engineering it measures force in systems, while in psychology it refers to stress.

What does "under pressure" imply?

It implies someone is facing stress or demands, either physically or mentally.

Does "pressure" have a positive connotation?

Usually, it has a negative connotation, but it can also motivate people positively in certain situations.

Does "press" refer to both journalists and publications?

Yes, it collectively refers to journalists, photographers, newspapers, and other media outlets.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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