verb

appuyer

press · lean · rely

C’est mettre sa main ou un objet sur quelque chose pour exercer une pression.

Definition & meaning

Appuyer is a French verb with several related meanings:

To press or push: appuyer sur un bouton — “to press a button.”
To lean or rest something against something: appuyer une échelle contre un mur — “to lean a ladder against a wall.”
To support or back someone or something: appuyer une candidature — “to support an application.”
To emphasize or stress: appuyer sur un mot — “to stress a word.”
In its reflexive form, s’appuyer sur means to lean on or to rely on, depending on context: s’appuyer sur une table (“lean on a table”); s’appuyer sur des faits (“rely on facts”).

Grammar & Word origin

Appuyer is a regular -er verb, though its spelling changes in some forms: the y becomes i before a silent e. For example: j’appuie and ils appuient, but nous appuyons. It uses avoir in compound tenses: j’ai appuyé (“I pressed/supported”).

Its reflexive form is s’appuyer. The verb comes from Old French apuier, from Late Latin appodiare, related to Latin podium, meaning a raised support or base.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary with the sense:

For pressing: presser means “to press” and is often interchangeable, while pousser emphasizes pushing rather than applying pressure.
For supporting or backing: soutenir is a broad equivalent; défendre means “to defend” or “advocate for.”
For leaning on: reposer sur means “to rest on”; it describes resting more than actively leaning.

Possible antonyms also depend on context:

For pressing or holding down: relâcher (“to release”).
For supporting an idea or person: s’opposer à (“to oppose”) or contredire (“to contradict”).