How to Use compress in a Sentence

compress

1 of 2 verb
  • Her lips compressed into a frown.
  • This type of file compresses easily.
  • Overall, the insert felt thin, and the fill was dense and compressed rather than light and fluffy.
    Maria V. Charbonneaux, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 June 2023
  • The front bungee can hold extra items or help compress the bag.
    Karen Cicero, Good Housekeeping, 19 Dec. 2022
  • Those are hard to control — much of the software can fit, compressed, on a thumb drive.
    Michael D. Shear and, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023
  • Those are hard to control -- much of the software can fit, compressed, on a thumb drive.
    Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 22 July 2023
  • The air pumps collect that, compress it and bring it inside.
    Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Nov. 2022
  • Best of all, this puffer comes with a stuff sack so the jacket can be compressed down to save space in your pack.
    Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2023
  • The heated gas is then compressed, and the cycle repeats.
    IEEE Spectrum, 7 Oct. 2023
  • With diesel, air is compressed before the fuel is added.
    First National Bank Alaska, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Apr. 2023
  • Fabric is stretchy but compressing at the same time, which is great.
    Lily Wohlner, Women's Health, 28 July 2023
  • There is not enough Spanx in the world to compress two decades into nothingness.
    Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
  • There was a lot of actual character space that had to be, by the nature of the film, compressed out.
    Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023
  • It’s been used for upwards of 3 years by our review team who found the mesh did begin to compress a bit.
    Scott Gilbertson gear Team, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2022
  • What to Consider: Not all clothes will fit into the cubes or can be compressed.
    Molly Harris, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2023
  • The bags shrunk by a little more than 10% and once compressed, fit easily under a bed and on a cube shelf.
    Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2023
  • The mattress is compressed and packaged in a box for easy delivery and set-up.
    Elizabeth Berry, Good Housekeeping, 11 July 2023
  • It’s made of durable high-density foam that will contour to your knees and won’t break down or compress over time.
    Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2022
  • Puffer jackets, on the other hand, may not compress as small as down jackets.
    Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 12 Jan. 2024
  • His vision had to be compressed to just under three hours for the theatrical cut.
    Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2023
  • Do not fasten children in car seats with bulky garments, the clothing can compress in a crash and the child may be able to come loose from the restraint.
    Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 13 Jan. 2023
  • That can compress the joint, causing pain or swelling, Dr. Malizia says.
    Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 14 Feb. 2024
  • Like Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1966, did so wearing a tank top bathing suit to compress breast movement.
    Malissa Rodenburg, Outside Online, 1 Mar. 2023
  • Place 8 council member Rick Smith asked if the timeline could be compressed.
    Myah Taylor, Dallas News, 12 Apr. 2023
  • Some down jackets are bulky and take up quite a bit of space, but there are many down jackets on the market that are lightweight and easy to compress.
    Amanda Constantine, Good Housekeeping, 2 Nov. 2022
  • Inside one was a pill press, a machine used to compress powders into tablets, in the other some pill dyes.
    Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023
  • The nerve can be compressed in a structure near there called the cubital tunnel, where a sheet of connective tissue covers the nerve just over the condyle of the humerus.
    Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 3 Mar. 2023
  • The first pulse compresses the fuel pellet but not as strongly as in NIF.
    Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2023
  • It can also be compressed down into a 1.5-inch thick circle that is small enough to fit in your back pocket.
    Steven Rowe, Verywell Health, 24 Feb. 2023
  • But water doesn’t compress, and the resulting pressure can bend piston rods or crack the block.
    Sun Sentinel, 13 Apr. 2023
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compress

2 of 2 noun
  • To tone down the swelling, use a warm compress, or take a hot shower.
    Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 4 Feb. 2023
  • Use a cool compress or ice pack to reduce the swelling in the area surrounding the bite.
    Cole Sikes Communications and Marketing Specialist Alabama Cooperative Extension System, al, 8 Aug. 2023
  • To treat bumps, put a warm compress on the affected area — the heat will relax the hair.
    Natalie Gontcharova, Good Housekeeping, 26 Oct. 2017
  • Add to a cold compress Dehydration sucks—and one of the first signs is a headache.
    Allison Young, Good Housekeeping, 30 Oct. 2017
  • Apply a cold compress or ice pack to your head or neck.
    Abigail Libers, SELF, 2 Mar. 2022
  • When a burn occurs, put a cold compress on the area ASAP.
    Emily Gaynor, Teen Vogue, 9 Aug. 2018
  • The temptation is strong to lie down, close my eyes, and put a cold compress on my head.
    Stu Bykofsky, Philly.com, 5 June 2018
  • If the sore is below the belt: Just like with cold sores, cool compresses are your friend.
    Hannah Orenstein, Seventeen, 7 Oct. 2016
  • Or use clean hands and apply a warm compress to help draw the pimple out.
    Blake Bakkila, Health.com, 18 June 2018
  • Applying a cool compress can help numb the pain in your head, Dr. Csere says.
    Sara Gaynes Levy, SELF, 17 Nov. 2021
  • Bonus tips: Maxi-Pads can be used as a wound compress with duct tape to stop bleeding.
    Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 6 July 2019
  • In the meantime, splash your eyes with water, or use a cool compress to speed things up.
    Kristin Canning, Health, 30 June 2023
  • Sadick recommends treating the area with a compress up to four times a day.
    Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, 2 Mar. 2018
  • Greet them after the concert, wipe the blood from their ears and hand them a cold compress and a bottle of wine.
    Scott Craven, azcentral, 14 June 2019
  • Cold compresses or ice packs to the vulva can ease the itching too, Dr. Dweck says.
    Sarah Bradley, Women's Health, 6 Apr. 2023
  • Wash the area with soap and water, and apply a cool compress to ease itching.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2021
  • Apply a warm compress to your breast and massage it to try to unplug the milk duct, Dr. Spatz says.
    Korin Miller, SELF, 3 Nov. 2017
  • Accordion tabs present a group of tabs that shrink, or compress, when not in use.
    Mark Hachman, PCWorld, 28 July 2021
  • When the springs compress (wheels get pushed up), the shock’s piston pushes inward.
    Ray Magliozzi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2023
  • Flower essences can be dropped under the tongue; they can also be used in a compress, or in a bath.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2017
  • If using a warm compress a few times a day does not work after a day or two, talk to a health care provider.
    Parents Editors, Parents, 3 Oct. 2023
  • In the meantime, a cold compress spiked with essential oils may help, says Green.
    Allison Young, Good Housekeeping, 19 May 2021
  • For best results, apply the cold compress or ice pack directly to the skin.
    Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 19 July 2023
  • Step 1: Apply a warm compress or washcloth to the ingrown hair to allow the skin to soften.
    Ana Sanchez, chicagotribune.com, 28 Feb. 2021
  • Spot Treatment: Apply a warm compress for five minutes three times a day to bring the pimple to a head.
    Kristin Koch, Seventeen, 16 June 2015
  • Put a washcloth in it, apply it to your skin until the compress feels warm, and then reapply.
    Korin Miller, SELF, 22 June 2017
  • Chamomile is known for its calming properties, and the cool compress can ease down swollen skin.
    Jessica Teich, Good Housekeeping, 3 Mar. 2021
  • Next time, try soaking a washcloth in some skim milk and using it as a cold compress.
    Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 10 May 2018
  • Apply ice packs or cold compresses to pulse points, such as your neck and wrists.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2023
  • Try a cold compress A cold compress can be helpful, but that doesn't mean an ice pack is the answer.
    Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 8 Aug. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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