jostle
JOS-uhl
/ˈdʒɒsəl/
To push, elbow, or bump against someone roughly, typically in a crowd.
Can refer to physical bumping in a crowd, or metaphorically competing for attention, power, or position.
The story behind the word. Jostle is a frequentative form of the Middle English verb 'justen', which meant 'to joust' or ride in a tournament. It evolved from the formal, chivalric clash of lances into the chaotic, everyday bumping and crowding of modern life.
Word relationships
- elbow: Elbow is a more specific physical action of pushing with the elbow, while jostle is general body bumping.
- shove: Shove is a deliberate, forceful push, whereas jostling is often a chaotic, repetitive bumping in a crowd.
- avoid: To avoid is to keep a physical distance from others to prevent contact.
- yield: To yield is to step aside and let others pass smoothly.
Commonly confused with
- hustle: Jostle means to bump physically; hustle means to move quickly or work aggressively.
Word family
- jostling (noun): The action of pushing or bumping roughly.
Collocations
- jostle for position
- jostle in the crowd
- jostle for attention
- gently jostle
Example sentences
- "The passengers had to jostle for space on the crowded train platform during the morning rush hour." Commuter rush
Memory hook
Imagine knights JOUST-ling in a tournament, which evolved into people JOST-ling in a crowded subway. Jousting in a crowded subway.
When not to use
Do not use for deliberate, violent punching or assault; jostle implies a crowded, chaotic bumping rather than targeted violence.
Fun facts
- In physics, the chaotic movement of molecules in a fluid is sometimes described metaphorically as molecular jostling.
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