1 A2 neutral
To physically move something until it is in contact with a surface.
"They pushed the sofa up against the wall to make room for the dance floor."
inseparable
push up against
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
To bring something into direct contact with a surface by pushing, or to encounter a limit or obstacle.
In plain English
To push something until it touches something else, or to reach the edge of what is allowed or possible.
What does "push up against" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To reach or approach the edge of a limit, boundary, or constraint.
"Our project timeline is pushing up against the product launch date, so we need to work faster."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To push something upward or forward until it makes contact with a surface.
Actually means
To push something until it touches something else, or to reach the edge of what is allowed or possible.
Usage tip
Used both literally (physical contact) and figuratively (encountering limits, deadlines, or boundaries). Figurative use is common in professional and academic contexts.
Words that pair with "push up against"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
wall limit boundary deadline constraint fence
How to conjugate "push up against"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
push up against
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pushes up against
he/she/it
Past simple
pushed up against
yesterday
Past participle
pushed up against
have + pp
-ing form
pushing up against
continuous
Hear "push up against" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "push up against" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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