have pressure

USAGE SUMMARY

'have pressure' is not a correct or usable sentence in written English.
Instead, you could use the phrase 'under pressure'. For example, "The team was under pressure to finish the project on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I have pressure every year.

The New York Times - Sports

"We have pressure too.

The Washington Post

Instead, they have pressure as their most formidable foe.

The New York Times - Sports

I think it's normal to have pressure at the moment.

The Guardian - Sport

But most patients have pressure levels that are too high.

The New York Times

"Some people when they have pressure eat too much.

The Guardian

He didn't want to have pressure or issues".

The New Yorker

"I don't have pressure," Sissoko said of the fee.

The Guardian - Sport

"The Russians have pressure on themselves, and so do we.

The New York Times

"We have pressure to do well for the provinces".

The New York Times

Hospitals stick to protocols, they have pressure for interventions, and I think that you need flexibility.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the phrase "be under pressure" as it is grammatically more conventional and widely accepted in formal writing.

Common error

While "have pressure" is frequently used, especially in spoken language, avoid it in formal writing. Opt for "be under pressure" or other alternatives that provide greater grammatical clarity and are less prone to misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase, while widely used, functions as a verb phrase expressing the experience of stress or strain. Although Ludwig AI indicates this construction is grammatically questionable, its prevalence suggests an evolving, if not fully accepted, idiomatic usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

19%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "have pressure" is frequently encountered across various sources, its grammatical correctness is questionable. Ludwig AI identifies it as not being a correct or usable sentence in written English and suggests using "be under pressure" instead. Despite its common use, especially in news and media, it is advisable to opt for more grammatically sound alternatives in formal writing. Remember that while the phrase is often used to communicate stress or obligation, there are more precise ways to express this idea that align better with standard English grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be under pressure

Uses a passive construction to indicate experiencing pressure from an external source.

experience pressure

Replaces "have" with "experience" to create a more standard verb-noun relationship.

feel pressure

Emphasizes the subjective sensation of pressure.

face pressure

Highlights the act of confronting or dealing with pressure.

encounter pressure

Similar to "face pressure", but suggests a more unexpected or incidental experience.

bear the burden

Implies responsibility and the weight of expectations.

be stressed

Focuses on the emotional consequence of experiencing pressure.

be burdened

Similar to "bear the burden", but puts more emphasis on the load being carried.

be strained

Suggests that one's resources or capabilities are being stretched to their limit.

be challenged

Focuses on the difficulty and the need to overcome obstacles.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say someone is experiencing pressure?

The grammatically preferred way is to say someone is "under pressure" rather than saying they "have pressure".

Is it wrong to use "have pressure"?

While commonly used, especially in informal contexts, "have pressure" is not considered grammatically correct. It's safer to use phrases like "be under pressure".

What can I say instead of "have pressure" to sound more professional?

For professional contexts, use phrases like "experience pressure", "face pressure", or "be stressed" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Which is more accurate, "have pressure" or "be under pressure"?

"Be under pressure" is more accurate and grammatically sound than "have pressure". It aligns with standard English usage and avoids potential ambiguity.