# compress

> English word · Verb · IPA /kəmˈpɹɛs/ · frequency rank #26,377

## Definitions
1. To make smaller; to press or squeeze together, or to make something occupy a smaller space or volume.
2. To be pressed together or folded by compression into a more economic, easier format.
3. To condense into a more economic, easier format.
4. To abridge.
5. To make digital information smaller by encoding it using fewer bits.
6. To make a pulse or particle bunch shorter by applying dispersion to it.
7. To embrace sexually.

## Etymology
From Middle English compressen, from Old French compresser, from Late Latin compressare (“to press hard/together”), from Latin compressus, the past participle of comprimō (“to compress”), itself from com- (“together”) + premō (“press”).

## Easily confused with
- **cypress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compress-vs-cypress)
- **congress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compress-vs-congress)
- **comprise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compress-vs-comprise)
- **comprises** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compress-vs-comprises)
- **compressed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compress-vs-compressed)
- **compressor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compress-vs-compressor)
- **compass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compass-vs-compress)
- **compels** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compels-vs-compress)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ccompress`, `cmopress`, `commpress`, `comperss`, `comppress`, `compres`, `comprress`, `comprses`, `comrpess`, `copmress`, `ocmpress`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/compress