1 A2 neutral
To force a person or object below the surface of water.
"He playfully pushed his friend under the water during their swim in the lake."
separable
push under
B1 neutral separable transitive
To force someone or something below a surface, typically water, or to cause someone to fail by applying pressure.
In plain English
To push something so it goes below the surface of water, or to make someone fail.
What does "push under" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To overwhelm or cause the failure of a person or business through financial or competitive pressure.
"Rising costs and falling sales finally pushed the small retailer under."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To push something downward so it goes below a surface.
Actually means
To push something so it goes below the surface of water, or to make someone fail.
Usage tip
Literal use refers to submerging something in water. Figurative use describes overwhelming or defeating someone or a business through pressure. Less common than related expressions.
Words that pair with "push under"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
water surface waves debt pressure competition
How to conjugate "push under"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
push under
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pushes under
he/she/it
Past simple
pushed under
yesterday
Past participle
pushed under
have + pp
-ing form
pushing under
continuous
Hear "push under" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "push under" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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