Under pressure

USAGE SUMMARY

"under pressure" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation in which someone is feeling a great deal of stress or strain. For example, you might say: "Tim has been working hard, but he's been feeling under pressure to get the job done quickly before his deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Under pressure, it did.

The Economist

Under pressure, she triangulates.

The New Yorker

"Under pressure?

BBC

Under pressure, Mr Teixeira resigned.

BBC

'Under Pressure' / Queen & David Bowie.

Los Angeles Times

Facts bend under pressure.

The New York Times - Arts

"Grace under pressure".

The New York Times

Gundogan cool under pressure.

The New York Times

To be under pressure?

Independent

He was under pressure.

The Economist

"We were under pressure.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional writing, pair this phrase with strong verbs like "perform", "thrive" or "buckle" to vividly illustrate how someone responds to stress.

Common error

Do not use "under a pressure" when referring to general stress. The idiomatic form for psychological or general situational strain is always uncountable: "under pressure". Use the article only when referring to a specific, measurable physical unit in a scientific context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under pressure" functions as a prepositional phrase. Syntactically, it can act as an adverbial (modifying a verb, as in "he works well under pressure") or as an adjectival complement (following a linking verb, as in "the system is under pressure"). Ludwig AI confirms its status as a standard, correct expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academic

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "under pressure" is a highly reliable and versatile component of English grammar. As shown by the extensive data from Ludwig, it is used consistently across elite publications to describe both psychological stress and physical force. Whether you are reporting on a political scandal in The New York Times or describing a scientific experiment in Science Magazine, this phrase remains the standard choice. It is grammatically robust, widely recognized, and lacks any significant regional bias, making it a safe and effective choice for any writer seeking to convey the presence of external strain or demand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pushed to the limit

emphasizes the exhaustion of resources or endurance

stressed out

more informal and focuses specifically on the emotional or mental toll rather than the external forces

overburdened

specifically refers to having too much work or responsibility

strained

a more formal adjective that describes the resulting state of being taxed to the limit

feeling the heat

idiomatic expression emphasizing the intense scrutiny or immediate difficulty of a situation

in a tight spot

refers to a difficult situation with limited options rather than just the force exerted

facing high stakes

highlights the importance of the outcome rather than the sensation of the stress itself

under duress

implies a legal or forceful compulsion, often suggesting a lack of free will

in the hot seat

focuses on being the center of attention during a difficult or pressured situation

at a breaking point

suggests that the pressure has reached its absolute limit and failure is imminent

FAQs

How do I use "under pressure" in a sentence?

You can use it as an adverbial phrase to describe how an action is performed, such as: "She performs best <a href="/s/under+pressure" target="_blank" rel="alternative">under pressure". It can also function as a predicative adjective: "The management was <a href="/s/under+pressure" target="_blank" rel="alternative">under pressure to resign".

What is a more professional way to say "under pressure"?

Depending on the specific nuance, you might prefer "<a href="/s/subjected+to+strain" target="_blank" rel="alternative">subjected to strain", "<a href="/s/facing+exigent+circumstances" target="_blank" rel="alternative">facing exigent circumstances", or simply stating that a person is "<a href="/s/overburdened" target="_blank" rel="alternative">overburdened".

Can "under pressure" be used for scientific descriptions?

Yes, it is frequently used in science to describe physical states, such as "gases stored <a href="/s/under+pressure" target="_blank" rel="alternative">under pressure" or "minerals formed <a href="/s/under+intense+pressure" target="_blank" rel="alternative">under intense pressure" deep within the Earth.

Is it "under pressure" or "in pressure"?

The correct idiom is almost always "<a href="/s/under+pressure" target="_blank" rel="alternative">under pressure". Using "in pressure" is non-standard and should be avoided in all writing contexts.