Empujar

Empujar is a Spanish verb meaning to apply force to move someone or something away or forward. It covers physical actions, such as pushing a door, a cart, or another person, as well as figurative uses like urging someone to act or pressing a situation to advance.

As a transitive verb, empujar typically requires a direct object: empujar a alguien, empujar una puerta, empujar un carrito. It can also be used reflexively to indicate moving through a crowd or pressing oneself against something: empujarse entre la gente, empujarse contra la pared. In addition to its physical sense, empujar is used in expressions that denote urging, encouraging, or forcing a course of action, for example, empujar por una solución or empujar reformas.

Grammar and conjugation: empujar is a regular -ar verb. Present indicative: empujo, empujas, empuja, empujamos, empujáis, empujan. Preterite: empujé, empujaste, empujó, empujamos, empujasteis, empujaron. Imperfect: empujaba, empujabas, empujaba, empujábamos, empujabais, empujaban. Future: empujaré, empujarás, empujará, empujaremos, empujaréis, empujarán. Subjunctive present: empuje, empujes, empuje, empujemos, empujéis, empujen. Gerund: empujando. Past participle: empujado. Imperative: empuja, no empujes, empuje, empujemos, empujad, empujen.

Senses and usage notes: common in everyday speech across Spanish-speaking regiones, with physical uses (empujar una puerta), crowd movement (empujarse para entrar), and metaphorical uses (empujar por mejores condiciones). Synonyms vary by context, with impulsar or insistir as related terms in figurative contexts.

See also: empuje, impulso, empujón.