push back

To say that you disagree with an idea, demand, or claim.

• Staff pushed back against the changes.
• Will you push back on these unfair demands?
• She is pushing back against claims that she lied.

How to use it: push back against something (Residents pushed back against the proposed road.); push back on something (We should push back on that claim.)

Similar words: object, resist, argue back

Opposites: agree

Common phrases: push back against, push back on

To arrange for something to happen later than planned.

• They pushed back the meeting.
• Can we push the deadline back by a day?
• The opening has been pushed back to June.

How to use it: push something back to a time (They pushed the meeting back to Monday.); push something back by a period (We pushed the launch back by two weeks.)

Similar words: postpone, delay, put off

Opposites: bring forward

Common phrases: push back something, push back deadlines

To move someone or something backward by pressing against them.

• Push back your chair.
• He pushed the door back with his shoulder.
• We pushed the table back to make more room.

How to use it: push something back (Push the chair back against the wall.)

Similar words: push backward

Opposites: pull forward

Common phrases: push back something, push back chairs

To force people seeking safety back across a border without properly considering their requests for protection.

• The guards pushed back the migrants.
• Authorities were accused of pushing asylum seekers back without hearing their claims.
• The report describes boats being pushed back at sea.

How to use it: push someone back across a border (The guards pushed the refugees back across the border.)

Similar words: forcibly return

Common phrases: push back migrants, push back refugees