thrust; thrusting
1
: to push or drive with force : shove
2
: to cause to enter or pierce something by or as if by pushing
thrust a dagger into his heart
5
a
: to put (someone, such as an unwilling person) forcibly into a course of action or position
was thrust into the job
b
: to introduce often improperly into a position : interpolate
6
: to press, force, or impose the acceptance of upon someone
thrust new responsibilities upon her
1
2
: to make a thrust, stab, or lunge with or as if with a pointed weapon
thrust at them with a knife
1
a
: a forward or upward push
b
: a movement (as by a group of people) in a specified direction
2
a
: salient or essential element or meaning
the thrust of the argument
b
: principal concern or objective
the plan's major thrust is testing—
Ryan Lizza
Ryan Lizza3
a
: a strong continued pressure
b
: the sideways force or pressure of one part of a structure against another part (as of an arch against an abutment)
c
: the force produced by a propeller or by a jet or rocket engine that drives a vehicle (such as an aircraft) forward
d
: a nearly horizontal geologic fault
4
a
: a push or lunge with a pointed weapon
b(1)
: a verbal attack
(2)
: a military assault
Synonyms
Examples of thrust in a Sentence
Verb
He thrust his hands into his pockets.
He thrust his fist into the air.
The doctor thrust the needle into the patient's arm.
He thrust at me with his sword.
Noun
With one last thrust he broke through the barrier.
a single thrust of his sword
Recent Examples on the Web
Pat Maio, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024
Between the lines: Any period of uncertainty could see the country thrust into a time of legal drama, paralyzed governance and overall distrust, as Axios' Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen reported.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
Unlike chemical propulsion systems, nuclear thermal propulsion systems rely on nuclear fission reactions to heat the propellant that is then expelled from the nozzle to create the driving force or thrust.
—Amber Dasilva / Jalopnik, Quartz, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thrust 
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Verb
Absolute Technologies, which originally began as a small machine shop in Santa Fe Springs making service repairs for Textron’s Bell Helicopters, makes landing gears, thrust reverser cylinders, flight control pistons, load transfer components and assemblies.
—Pat Maio, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024
Between the lines: Any period of uncertainty could see the country thrust into a time of legal drama, paralyzed governance and overall distrust, as Axios' Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen reported.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
The highlight for me was watching and listening closely to Joan Robinson (Post-Keynesian diva) duking it out with Frank Hahn (Neoclassical divo), in playful but serious jabs and thrusts.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
Unlike chemical propulsion systems, nuclear thermal propulsion systems rely on nuclear fission reactions to heat the propellant that is then expelled from the nozzle to create the driving force or thrust.
—Amber Dasilva / Jalopnik, Quartz, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thrust
Dictionary Entries Near thrust
Cite this Entry
“Thrust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrust. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thrust
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a push or lunge with a pointed weapon
b
: a military attack
2
: the force produced by a propeller or jet or rocket engine that drives an aircraft or rocket forward
3
a
: a forward or upward push
b
: a movement (as by a group of people) in a particular direction
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