appuyer

Appuyer is a French verb with several related meanings centered on pressing, leaning, or supporting. In its most concrete sense, it means to press or push something: appuyer sur un bouton (to press a button) or appuyer contre un mur (to lean/push against a wall). It can also mean to provide physical support or backing, as in appuyer une étagère contre le mur (to position a shelf by pressing it against the wall).

In a figurative sense, appuyer is used to indicate support or reinforcement. On a claim or argument, one can appuyer une thèse or appuyer une proposition (to back up a thesis or proposal). S'appuyer sur means to rely on or lean on someone or something for support or justification, as in s'appuyer sur ses expériences (to rely on one’s experience).

Conjugation and forms: appuyer is a regular -er verb. Present tense forms include j'appuie, tu appuies, il appuie, nous appuyons, vous appuyez, ils appuient. The passé composé is formé with avoir: j'ai appuyé; imperfect: j'appuyais; future: j'appuierai; conditional: j'appuierais. The subjunctive present: que j'appuie. The imperative: appuie, appuyons, appuyez. The present participle is appuyant, and the past participle is appuyé. The verb also appears in pronominal form as s'appuyer sur quelqu'un ou quelque chose.

Nouns related include l'appui (support, backing, foothold) and les appuis (supports, aids). Appuyer is widely used across everyday language and formal or academic registers to describe both physical actions and metaphorical backing.