Pushed

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /pʊʃt/

Definitions

1. Moved an object or person by applying force ; strongly encouraged or persuaded someone to act or decide
2. Exerted pressure to shift something from one place to another ; motivated or pressured someone to take action
3. Used physical force to cause movement ; urged intensely for a decision or effort

Etymology: "Pushed" is simply the past tense and past participle of "push," so its story is the story of the verb. The verb reached English in the Middle Ages, in forms like "pushen," "poshen," and "posson," borrowed from Middle French "pousser." That French word came from Old French "poulser," which traces back to Latin "pulsare," meaning "to beat" or "to strike." English already had a native verb for this sense, Old English "sċūfan," and it survives today as "shove," which was displaced by the newcomer. Latin "pulsare" is a frequentative form of "pellere," meaning "to drive," so the original idea was repeated, forceful striking rather than gentle movement. "Pulsate" and "pulse" are doublets of this verb, meaning they descend from the same Latin source by separate routes into English. The word's core idea of driving something forward by force has been there from the start.

Synonyms: shoved, thrust, propelled, driven, forced

Antonyms: pulled, retracted, withdrew, receded, halted