( pres sures, pres • sur• ing , pres • sured )
to make someone do something that they do not really want to do
Her parents pressured her into going to a college near home.
pres • tige / pre ' sti3 / noun [ noncount ]
the respect that someone or something has because they have a high social position or they have been very successful
He dreamed of having a job with a lot of power and prestige.
► pres • ti • gious / pre ' stid3as / adjective
a prestigious university
pre • sum • a • bly aw / pri ' zumabli /
a word you use when you think that something is probably true
Presumably, this rain means the parade will be canceled.
pre • sume AWL / pri 'zum / verb ( pre • sumes , pre • sum • ing , pre • sumed )
to think that something is true, although you are not sure She's not home yet, so I presume she's still at work.
pre .tend О / pri tend / verb ( pre • tends , pre • tend • ing , pre • tend • ed )
to try to make someone believe something that is not true He didn't want to talk, so he pretended to be asleep. I pretended that I was enjoying myself.
pre • ten • tious / pri ' tenjas / adjective
trying to appear more serious or important than you really are in order to impress other people
pre • text / ' pritekst / noun [ count ] a reason that you give for doing something, which is not the real reason
She left work early on the pretext of having a doctor's appointment.
pret .ty 1 © / 'prrti/ adjective ( pret • ti er , pret • ti • est )
nice to look at a pretty little girl These flowers are very pretty. Thesaurus
attractive can be used about any person who is nice to look at: He's polite and attractive. ♦ a group of attractive young women
beautiful (usually used to describe a woman or girl) very attractive: a beautiful, intelligent woman ♦ She looked beautiful that night.
good-looking (used more about men than women) attractive: The band's lead singer is very good-looking. ♦ a good-looking young actor
pretty (usually used about a girl or young woman) attractive: She has a very pretty face. ♦ a pretty little girl in a pink dress
handsome (usually used about a man or boy) attractive: You look so handsome in that suit! ♦ a polite, handsome man
pret .ty 2© / 'pnti/ adverb ( informal )
very, but not completely
You should wear a heavier coat — it's pretty cold today. I'm pretty sure that Alex will agree.
—SYNONYM quite
pretty much ; pretty well
almost
I won't be long. I'm pretty much finished.
pret • Zel / ' pretsl/ noun [ count ]
a type of bread that is rolled and twisted into a special shape and baked with salt. Pretzels are often thin and hard
a bag of pretzels
pre .vent © / pn'vent / verb ( pre•vents ,pre•vent• ing ,pre•vent•ed )
to stop someone from doing something; to stop something from happening
Her parents want to prevent her from getting married. It is easier to prevent disease than to cure it.
pre • ven • tion / pri ' ven/n /
[noncount]
stopping someone from doing something or stopping something from happening crime prevention
