under pressure
idiom
1
: tightly pressed into a container
The contents of the bottle are under pressure.
2
: in a state of stress or anxiety because of having too much to do
They both work well under pressure.
3
: being made to feel forced to do something (as by arguments, threats, etc.)
The mayor is under pressure to resign.
Examples of under pressure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some might also get board seats, an honor bestowed on the few, or receive promotions to highly visible roles overseeing large teams and making weighty decisions under pressure.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 June 2024
Netanyahu is under pressure at home, where dissatisfaction is growing over his handling of the war in Gaza and what critics say is his refusal to commit to a cease-fire deal that would secure the release of 120 hostages still being held in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
—Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 19 June 2024
She’s always brought energy and excitement to the somewhat staid job of hosting the Tonys, and even her most meme-worthy moment—shouting out Angela Bassett in a goofy rap at the 2023 BAFTA Awards that quickly went viral—speaks to her unmatched ability to entertain under pressure.
—Vogue, 17 June 2024
Later, under pressure from predators and parasites, the butterflies evolved the capacity to accumulate those toxins for protection.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for under pressure 
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 June 2024
Netanyahu is under pressure at home, where dissatisfaction is growing over his handling of the war in Gaza and what critics say is his refusal to commit to a cease-fire deal that would secure the release of 120 hostages still being held in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
—Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 19 June 2024
She’s always brought energy and excitement to the somewhat staid job of hosting the Tonys, and even her most meme-worthy moment—shouting out Angela Bassett in a goofy rap at the 2023 BAFTA Awards that quickly went viral—speaks to her unmatched ability to entertain under pressure.
—Vogue, 17 June 2024
Later, under pressure from predators and parasites, the butterflies evolved the capacity to accumulate those toxins for protection.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for under pressure
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'under pressure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Under pressure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20pressure. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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