noun · verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈd͡ʒɒs.əl/
US:/ˈd͡ʒɑ.səl/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒsəl
CMU ARPABET:JH AA1 S AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of jostling someone or something; push, shove.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
1722, Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders, London: J. Cooke, 1765, p. 241, I had full hold of her Watch, but giving a great Jostle, as if somebody had thrust me against her, and in the Juncture giving the Watch a fair pull, I found it would not come, so I let it go that Moment, and cried out as if I had been killed, that somebody had trod upon my Foot [...]
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The action of a jostling crowd.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
1865, Harriet Beecher Stowe (under the pseudonym Christopher Crowfield), The Chimney-Corner, Boston: Ticknor & Field, 1868, Chapter 12, p. 291, For years to come, the average of lone women will be largely increased; and the demand, always great, for some means by which they many provide for themselves, in the rude jostle of the world, will become more urgent and imperative.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To bump into or brush against while in motion; to push aside.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To move through by pushing and shoving.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To be close to or in physical contact with.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To contend or vie in order to acquire something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
1917, Rudyard Kipling, “The Children,” poem accompanying the story “The Honours of War” in A Diversity of Creatures, London: Macmillan, pp. 129-130, [...] Our statecraft, our learning Delivered them bound to the Pit and alive to the burning Whither they mirthfully hastened as jostling for honour.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To pick or attempt to pick pockets.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
the act of jostling (forcing your way by pushing)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: jostling
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: shove
Narrower terms: elbowing
9
verb
Meaning 9
come into rough contact with while moving
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The passengers jostled each other in the overcrowded train
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: shove
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: push, force
Narrower terms: elbow, shoulder in
10
verb
Meaning 10
make one's way by jostling, pushing, or shoving
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
We had to jostle our way to the front of the platform
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: make, work
History
Etymology
Originally justle (“to have sex with”), formed from Middle English jousten, from the Old French joster (“to joust”), from Latin iuxtā (“next to”), from iungō (“join, connect”), equivalent to joust + -le.
Across languages
Translations
83 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
бутане
(butane)
— act of jostling
Bulgarian:
блъскане
(blǎskane)
— act of jostling
Catalan:
empenta
— act of jostling
Czech:
šťouchnutí
— act of jostling
Czech:
vražení
— act of jostling
Czech:
strčení
— act of jostling
French:
bousculade
— act of jostling
German:
Drängelei
— act of jostling
German:
Gedrängel
— act of jostling
Plautdietsch:
Bucks
— act of jostling
Bulgarian:
блъсканица
(blǎskanica)
— action of a jostling crowd
Chinese Mandarin:
摩肩接踵
(mójiānjiēzhǒng)
— action of a jostling crowd
Chinese Mandarin:
推推搡搡
(tuītui-sǎngsǎng)
— action of a jostling crowd
Czech:
strkanice
— action of a jostling crowd
French:
cohue
— action of a jostling crowd
German:
Gedränge
— action of a jostling crowd
German:
Rempelei
— action of a jostling crowd
Russian:
да́вка
(dávka)
— action of a jostling crowd
Russian:
толкотня́
(tolkotnjá)
— action of a jostling crowd
Russian:
су́толока
(sútoloka)
— action of a jostling crowd
Russian:
толку́чка
(tolkúčka)
— action of a jostling crowd
Bulgarian:
бутам
(butam)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Bulgarian:
блъскам
(blǎskam)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Catalan:
empentar
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Catalan:
empentejar
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Chinese Mandarin:
擠 /挤
(jǐ)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Chinese Mandarin:
推搡
(tuīsǎng)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Czech:
strkat
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Dutch:
omverduwen
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Dutch:
bruuskeren
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Finnish:
törmätä
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Finnish:
tuuppia
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Finnish:
töniä
— bump into or brush against while in motion
French:
bousculer
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Georgian:
დაჯახება
(daǯaxeba)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Georgian:
შეჯახება
(šeǯaxeba)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
German:
drängeln
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Japanese:
押し合う
(oshiau)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Māori:
tutetute
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Māori:
ātute
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Māori:
taututetute
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Norman:
bostchuler
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Occitan:
butassar
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Polish:
trącać
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Polish:
trącić
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Portuguese:
esbarrar
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Russian:
пиха́ться
(pixátʹsja)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Russian:
толка́ться
(tolkátʹsja)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Scottish Gaelic:
put
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Swedish:
knuffa
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Tày:
ắm
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Turkish:
itelemek
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Ukrainian:
штовхатися
(štovxatysja)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Ukrainian:
зіштовхуватися
(zištovxuvatysja)
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Vietnamese:
chen
— bump into or brush against while in motion
Bulgarian:
пробивам си път
(probivam si pǎt)
— move through by pushing and shoving
Czech:
tlačit se
— move through by pushing and shoving
Dutch:
verdringen
— move through by pushing and shoving
Dutch:
drummen
— move through by pushing and shoving
Finnish:
tunkea
— move through by pushing and shoving
French:
se bousculer
— move through by pushing and shoving
Georgian:
ხელის კვრა
(xelis ḳvra)
— move through by pushing and shoving
Georgian:
ბიძგება
(biʒgeba)
— move through by pushing and shoving
Georgian:
გაძრომა
(gaʒroma)
— move through by pushing and shoving
German:
drängeln
— move through by pushing and shoving
Ingrian:
tuppia
— move through by pushing and shoving
Italian:
spingere
— move through by pushing and shoving
Italian:
farsi largo
— move through by pushing and shoving
Polish:
rozpychać się
— move through by pushing and shoving
Polish:
rozepchać się
— move through by pushing and shoving
Polish:
rozepchnąć się
— move through by pushing and shoving
Russian:
пропи́хиваться
(propíxivatʹsja)
— move through by pushing and shoving
Russian:
прота́лкиваться
(protálkivatʹsja)
— move through by pushing and shoving
Scottish Gaelic:
uillnich
— move through by pushing and shoving
Spanish:
codear
— move through by pushing and shoving
Spanish:
empujar
— move through by pushing and shoving
Turkish:
itelemek
— move through by pushing and shoving
Ukrainian:
проштовхуватися
(proštovxuvatysja)
— move through by pushing and shoving
Czech:
tlačit se
— be close to or in physical contact with
Czech:
tahat se
— contend or vie in order to acquire something
Czech:
drát se
— contend or vie in order to acquire something
Czech:
prát se
— contend or vie in order to acquire something
Finnish:
tavoitella
— contend or vie in order to acquire something