crush Definition
- 1to press something very hard so that it is broken or its shape is destroyed
- 2to make someone feel a strong but usually temporary liking for someone
- 3a feeling of love and admiration for someone, often someone you know you cannot have a relationship with
Using crush: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "crush" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She accidentally crushed the glass in her hand.
Example
The machine crushes the cans so they can be recycled.
Example
I have a crush on my coworker, but I'm too shy to tell him.
Example
He had a crush on her for years, but never acted on it.
Example
The crowd was crushing against the stage during the concert.
crush Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using crush
Example
She really crushed it in her presentation today.
to disappoint or discourage someone by preventing them from achieving their goals or aspirations
Example
When he didn't get into his dream school, it really crushed his dreams.
Example
The constant criticism from her boss really crushed her spirit.
Phrases with crush
schoolgirl/boy crush
an intense but usually short-lived infatuation with someone, often a celebrity or someone unattainable
Example
When she was a teenager, she had a schoolgirl crush on a famous actor.
Example
I think he has a crush on his new neighbor.
to have a feeling of love and admiration for someone, often someone you know you cannot have a relationship with
Example
She's had a crush on him since they were in high school, but he's never noticed her.
Origins of crush
from Old English 'cryscan', meaning 'to crush, smash, or break'
Summary: crush in Brief
The verb 'crush' [krʌʃ] means to press something very hard, destroy its shape, or make someone feel a strong but temporary liking for someone. It also refers to a feeling of love and admiration for someone, often unattainable. Phrases like 'schoolgirl/boy crush' and 'crush on someone' denote temporary infatuations, while 'have a crush on someone' implies a deeper feeling of love. Idioms like 'crush it' and 'crush someone's dreams' refer to success and disappointment, respectively.