push

/pʊʃ/

//pʊʃ// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"push" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“push” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,612 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#1,612
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To apply a force to (an object) such that it moves away from the person or thing applying the force.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

push vs put
50% similar
push vs puts
50% similar
push vs putt
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for push
PropertyValue
Headwordpush
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/pʊʃ/
Letters4
Frequency rank#1,612
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “push” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). push lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for push is 4 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /pʊʃ/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,612 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 16 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for push, with forms such as "ppush", "psuh", and "puhs". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "put", "puts", "putt", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English pushen, poshen, posson, borrowed from Middle French pousser (Modern French pousser) from Old French poulser, from Latin pulsare (“to beat, strike”), frequentative of pellere (past participle pulsus). Doublet of pulsate and pulse (verb). … The correct English form is push, spelled P-U-S-H.

Definition

  1. 1
    To apply a force to (an object) such that it moves away from the person or thing applying the force.
  2. 2
    To continually attempt to persuade (a person) into a particular course of action.
  3. 3
    To press or urge forward; to drive.
  4. 4
    To continually promote (a point of view, a product for sale, etc.).
  5. 5
    To continually exert oneself in order to achieve a goal.
  6. 6
    To approach; to come close to.
  7. 7
    To tense the muscles in the abdomen in order to give birth or defecate.
  8. 8
    To continue to attempt to persuade a person into a particular course of action.
  9. 9
    To make a higher bid at an auction.
  10. 10
    To make an all-in bet.
  11. 11
    To move (a pawn) directly forward.
  12. 12
    To add (a data item) to the top of a stack.
  13. 13
    To publish (an update, etc.) by transmitting it to other computers.
  14. 14
    To thrust the points of the horns against; to gore.
  15. 15
    To burst out of its pot, as a bud or shoot.
  16. 16
    To strike the cue ball in such a way that it stays in contact with the cue and object ball at the same time (a foul shot).

Etymology

From Middle English pushen, poshen, posson, borrowed from Middle French pousser (Modern French pousser) from Old French poulser, from Latin pulsare (“to beat, strike”), frequentative of pellere (past participle pulsus). Doublet of pulsate and pulse (verb). Partly displaced native Old English sċūfan, whence Modern English shove.

This word in other languages

empujar(Español)pousser(Français)drücken(Deutsch)pressionar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ppush,psuh,puhs,pushh,pussh,upsh

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of push - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ppush1psuh2puhs2pushh1pussh1upsh2
Edit distance from "push"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "push"?
"push" is spelled P-U-S-H. The IPA pronunciation is /pʊʃ/.
What does "push" mean?
As a verb, "push" means: To apply a force to (an object) such that it moves away from the person or thing applying the force.
What words are commonly confused with "push"?
"push" is commonly confused with "put", "puts", "putt". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "push"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "push" is /pʊʃ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "push"?
From Middle English pushen, poshen, posson, borrowed from Middle French pousser (Modern French pousser) from Old French poulser, from Latin pulsare (“to beat, strike”), frequentative of pellere (past participle pulsus). Doublet of pulsate and puls... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “push”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-U-S-H - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /pʊʃ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “put” - see the side-by-side comparison. push vs put
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list