verb

premere

press

Fare forza con la mano o con un oggetto su qualcosa, spingendo verso il basso o contro una superficie.

Definition & meaning

Premere means to press, push, or apply pressure to something. It can also mean to weigh on or concern someone deeply, or to urge someone to do something.

Premere un pulsante. — To press a button.
La questione mi preme. — The matter is important to me.
Premere per una decisione. — To press for a decision.

Grammar & Word origin

Premere is a verb of the second conjugation, ending in -ere. It can be transitive (“to press something”) or intransitive (“to matter” or “to press for something”).

It comes from the Latin premere, meaning “to press” or “weigh down.”

Synonyms & antonyms

schiacciare — to press or crush, often with greater force.
spingere — to push, usually emphasizing movement rather than pressure.
interessare — to interest or concern; less emphatic than premere in the sense of something mattering deeply.
rilasciare — to release; an opposite when referring to a button or something being held down.

Common phrases & collocations

premere un pulsante — to press a button.
premere il freno — to press the brake.
premere per qualcosa — to press for something.
stare a cuore — to be important to someone; a common expression close to the emotional sense of premere.