push through: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal. Used in professional, political, journalistic, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “push through” mean?
to succeed in making something official or accepted, especially despite difficulty, opposition, or bureaucracy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to succeed in making something official or accepted, especially despite difficulty, opposition, or bureaucracy.
1) To force someone or something to move through a crowded or obstructed space. 2) To complete something with determined effort, often while tired or under pressure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The phrasal verb is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
In political contexts, can carry a slightly negative connotation of forcing legislation without full democratic scrutiny.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “push through” in a Sentence
[Subject] push [Object] through[Subject] push through [Object][Subject] push [Object] through [Prepositional Phrase (e.g., parliament, the crowd)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “push through” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government aims to push the bill through Parliament before the summer recess.
- We had to push our way through the jubilant crowd at the festival.
American English
- The mayor pushed through the new zoning regulations last week.
- I just need to push through this last stack of reports before I can leave.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new CEO managed to push through the controversial merger despite shareholder doubts."
Academic
"The researcher pushed through the final stages of data analysis despite numerous setbacks."
Everyday
"I'm really tired, but I need to push through and finish this cleaning."
Technical
"The engineer pushed the cable through the conduit."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “push through”
- Using 'push in' or 'push to' incorrectly. Incorrect: *'He pushed through to pass the law.' Correct: 'He pushed the law through.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'push the plan through' or 'push through the plan'.
Absolutely. It is most commonly used for intangible concepts like laws, changes, proposals, and personal efforts (e.g., pushing through tiredness).
'Push through' emphasizes overcoming resistance or difficulty to initiate or complete something. 'Carry out' is more neutral, simply meaning to perform or execute a task.
Yes, 'it' is a common pronoun object used with this verb. Example: 'The vote is tomorrow; we have to push it through.'
to succeed in making something official or accepted, especially despite difficulty, opposition, or bureaucracy.
Push through is usually neutral to formal. used in professional, political, journalistic, and everyday contexts. in register.
Push through: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpʊʃ θruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpʊʃ θruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “push through the pain barrier”
- “push through the red tape”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a determined person physically PUSHing a heavy object THROUGH a narrow doorway. The action requires sustained effort against resistance.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETION IS A PHYSICAL JOURNEY (overcoming obstacles to reach the end).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'push through' LEAST appropriately fit?