blood pressure: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Semi-technical; common in medical, everyday, and wellness contexts.
Quick answer
What does “blood pressure” mean?
The pressure of blood in the circulatory system, often measured as a medical indicator.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The pressure of blood in the circulatory system, often measured as a medical indicator.
A general term for cardiovascular health or a metaphorical description of stress levels.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and some measurement phrasing. UK uses 'millimetres of mercury (mmHg)', US may use 'points' informally (e.g., 'My pressure is 120 over 80').
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation. Both refer to the same physiological concept.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties. The phrase is standard in medical and everyday discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “blood pressure” in a Sentence
have + blood pressuretake + [someone's] + blood pressurecheck + blood pressuremeasure + blood pressurecontrol + blood pressureVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blood pressure” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The nurse will blood-pressure you before the consultation. (Very informal/rare)
American English
- The doctor blood-pressured me and said I was fine. (Very informal/rare)
adverb
British English
- n/a
American English
- n/a
adjective
British English
- He bought a blood-pressure monitor from the chemist.
American English
- She is on a new blood-pressure medication from her doctor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in corporate wellness programmes ('The company offers free blood pressure screenings').
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and public health texts ('The study correlated salt intake with elevated blood pressure').
Everyday
Very common in health discussions ('I need to get my blood pressure checked').
Technical
Central term in cardiology and general practice ('The patient presented with systolic blood pressure of 160 mmHg').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blood pressure”
- Using as a plural (*blood pressures).
- Using 'tension' incorrectly as a direct synonym (tension relates more to stress).
- Incorrect preposition: *'measure my blood pressure of my arm' vs. 'measure my blood pressure in my arm'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is generally treated as a non-count noun. You have blood pressure, not *a blood pressure. However, you can have 'a blood pressure reading'.
The first (systolic) number measures pressure when the heart beats. The second (diastolic) number measures pressure when the heart rests between beats.
Yes, both are correct and commonly used. 'My blood pressure is high' describes the current state, while 'I have high blood pressure' often indicates a chronic condition.
'Hypertension' is the formal medical term for the condition of persistently high blood pressure. 'High blood pressure' is the everyday term and can describe a single high reading or the condition.
The pressure of blood in the circulatory system, often measured as a medical indicator.
Blood pressure is usually semi-technical; common in medical, everyday, and wellness contexts. in register.
Blood pressure: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd ˌpreʃ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd ˌpreʃ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “under pressure (related, but not specific)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of BLOOD putting PRESSURE on your arteries, like water pressure in a hose.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRESSURE IS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY; HEALTH IS A BALANCE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a common collocation for 'blood pressure'?