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to apply force to move something away from oneself
He pushed the cart down the aisle.
He applied force to move the cart forward.
The crowd pushed against the barriers.
The crowd applied force to the barriers.
Can be used literally or metaphorically.
to persuade or encourage someone to do something
She pushed him to apply for the job.
She encouraged him to apply for the job.
The manager pushed the team to meet the deadline.
The manager encouraged the team to meet the deadline.
Often used in a persuasive or motivational context.
to move forward or progress in a particular direction
The company is pushing for innovation.
The company is striving to innovate.
He pushed himself to finish the marathon.
He motivated himself to complete the marathon.
Can imply effort or determination.
Be mindful of the context to distinguish between physical force and persuasion.
The meaning of 'push' can vary significantly based on context, so pay attention to surrounding words.
Old English 'pūscan' (to thrust, shove), from Proto-Germanic 'pūskōnan'.
Can be used both literally and metaphorically. Often implies force or effort.