thrust

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/θrʌst/
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A strong forward push, the force that propels a vehicle, or the central direction of an argument or plan.
Practice using thrust in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • I understood the general thrust of her argument.
  • He gave the stuck door a hard thrust.
  • The policy has a clear environmental thrust.
  • The main thrust of the speech was economic reform.
  • The branch thrust out over the path.

Similar words

push
drive
gist
drive
push
jet force
propulsive force
main point
shove
stab

Meanings

Forceful push or lunge

noun
physical
neutral
A sudden, strong push forward, especially with the body, a hand, a weapon, or another object.

Usage

Use thrust when the movement is sharp, forceful, and directed forward. Push is more general and usually less dramatic.

Examples

  • He gave the stuck door a hard thrust.
  • The fencer answered with a quick thrust.
  • A sudden thrust from the crowd pushed her forward.
  • The spear thrust glanced off the shield.
  • The rescuer used one final thrust to move the beam.

Common mistakes

The verb form is sometimes forced into a regular past tense, but the usual past form is thrust.
IncorrectCorrect
She thrusted the papers into his hand. She thrust the papers into his hand.
He made a thrust on the door. He gave the door a thrust.
The knife made a thrust. He made a thrust with the knife.

Similar words

push
shove
lunge
jab
drive
stab

Push suddenly forward

verb
physical
neutral
To push, move, or force someone or something suddenly and strongly in a particular direction.

Usage

Use thrust with objects, body parts, papers, weapons, or people when the action feels abrupt or forceful. The past tense is also thrust.

Examples

  • She thrust the note into my hand.
  • He thrust his way through the crowd.
  • The actor thrust his chin forward defiantly.
  • They thrust the heavy box onto the truck.
  • The branch thrust out over the path.

Common mistakes

A regular past tense sounds awkward in standard use, and the object usually follows the verb directly.
IncorrectCorrect
He thrusted his hands into his pockets. He thrust his hands into his pockets.
She thrust to me the letter. She thrust the letter at me.
They thrusted the gate open. They thrust the gate open.

Similar words

push
shove
force
drive
jam
insert

Propulsive force

noun
technical
technical
The forward force produced by an engine, propeller, rocket, or similar system.

Usage

Use thrust in aviation, rocketry, marine engineering, and physics for propulsion. It is usually measured as force, not as speed or power.

Examples

  • The rocket engines produced enough thrust for liftoff.
  • Pilots reduce thrust during descent.
  • The aircraft lost thrust in one engine.
  • A larger propeller can increase thrust at low speed.
  • Engineers measured the thrust in newtons.

Common mistakes

The word is often treated as a count noun in places where technical English normally uses it as an uncountable force.
IncorrectCorrect
The engine produced many thrusts. The engine produced high thrust.
The rocket had a fast thrust. The rocket had high thrust.
The pilot added more thrusts. The pilot added more thrust.

Similar words

propulsion
propulsive force
drive
engine force
jet force

Main point or direction

noun
everyday
formal
The central idea, purpose, or direction of an argument, speech, policy, article, or activity.

Usage

Use thrust in phrases such as the main thrust of an argument or policy. This sense is more formal than point or gist.

Examples

  • The main thrust of the speech was economic reform.
  • I understood the general thrust of her argument.
  • The campaign changed its thrust after the debate.
  • The article's thrust is that prevention is cheaper than repair.
  • The policy has a clear environmental thrust.

Common mistakes

The phrase normally needs words like main or general, and it is usually followed by of.
IncorrectCorrect
The thrust about the article is clear. The thrust of the article is clear.
Her speech had a thrust economic reform. The main thrust of her speech was economic reform.
I understood her thrusts. I understood the general thrust of her argument.

Similar words

main point
gist
focus
direction
purpose
argument

Usage

Choose thrust when force, forward direction, or central purpose matters. In casual contexts, push, force, point, or gist may sound simpler.

Common mistakes

She thrusted the note is usually corrected to She thrust the note. The technical noun is often uncountable, and the figurative sense usually appears in the main thrust of something.

Etymology

From Middle English thrusten, probably from Old Norse thrysta, meaning to press, squeeze, or force. The physical idea of pressing forward later extended to propulsion and then to the figurative sense of the direction of an argument.

FAQ

What does thrust mean?

It can mean a strong forward push, the force that propels an engine or rocket, or the main point of an argument.

Is thrust a noun or a verb?

It is both. A thrust is a push or force, and to thrust is to push something suddenly and strongly.

What is the past tense of thrust?

The usual past tense and past participle are both thrust.

What does thrust mean in aviation?

In aviation, thrust is the force that moves an aircraft forward, produced by engines or propellers.

What does main thrust mean?

The main thrust is the central idea, purpose, or direction of a speech, article, policy, or argument.

Is thrusted a correct past tense?

Thrust is the standard past tense. Thrusted appears sometimes, but it is usually avoided in standard English.

What is the opposite of thrust?

For physical movement, pull or retreat can be opposites. In engineering, drag or resistance can oppose thrust.

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