Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

press into service

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.96 in modern English

Syllables: press in-to ser-vice
IPA

23

Scrabble Score

16

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make someone perform a task or duty, especially one they are not prepared or willing to do; to make something serve a function, especially one it was not designed or intended for.

Example Sentences

"Anyone with basic first-aid training was pressed into service as a triage nurse after the earthquake."
"In essence, the book gives a step-by-step account of how the author built, modified and developed his own 6-inch Newtonian reflector, pressing into service such materials as old larder shelves, a car halfshaft, pieces of Meccano, and several coffee-jar tops."
"Even the molds don't have to be expensive — most plastic bins, bowls or drawer dividers can be pressed into service, though silicone molds are readily available."
"The chances are that you have nearly everything you need to start up your business already somewhere around your home. […] You can press into service a garage, loft, spare bedroom or garden shed for a whole host of business-related takes from holding stock to being a dedicated office space away from the normal hustle of home life."

Inflected Forms

presses into service (present, singular) pressing into service (participle, present) pressed into service (participle, past) pressed into service (past)

Synonyms

army volunteer

Questions

What does press into service mean?: To make someone perform a task or duty, especially one they are not prepared or willing to do; to make something serve a function, especially one it was not designed or intended for.

How to pronounce press into service

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “press into service”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “press into service” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.