What does jostled mean?
Jostled is the past tense and past participle of jostle, a verb meaning to push, nudge, or crowd roughly. It is especially common in descriptions of people moving within a crowded or confined space, as when passengers jostled for a place on a train or children jostled one another in a queue. The verb can also have a figurative sense: to jostle for position means to compete with others for status, opportunity, or attention. Jostled carries a mildly negative or energetic connotation, suggesting disorder, urgency, or vigorous physical movement rather than calm, orderly interaction. It is useful because it captures both kinds of pressure: the literal crowding of bodies and the metaphorical competition that occurs when people or groups pursue the same limited resource or opportunity. The word is understood throughout the English-speaking world, with no major regional restriction.
verbTo push, nudge, or crowd someone roughly, usually in a confined space. It can also mean to compete for position, attention, or advantage.
- To push, nudge, or move roughly against another person in a crowd or confined space.
- To compete or struggle for position, attention, or advantage.
"Commuters jostled for space as the train doors opened."
"The children jostled each other as they waited beside the school gates."
"Several promising candidates jostled for the interviewer's attention."
From a gentle nudge in a queue to fierce competition for attention, “jostled” captures movement driven by limited space or intense rivalry.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jostled come from?
The word derives from the English verb jostle, which was recorded in the early 16th century. Its precise origin is uncertain, and it initially referred to pushing or crowding and later developed the figurative sense of competing for position or advantage. Because the relationship between jostle and proposed cognates is not certain, no secure cognates are listed here.
Related word forms
How jostled is actually used
The word is common in both formal and informal contexts. It often suggests vigorous or disorderly movement, although it can describe a relatively light push. In its figurative sense, it emphasizes competitive interaction rather than physical contact.