What does shoving mean?
Shoving is the present participle of shove and also functions as a noun for the forceful pushing of people or objects. It commonly describes actions in crowded or obstructed spaces, such as shoving through a doorway, shoving a bag into a compartment, or shoving someone aside. The expression often conveys haste, impatience, or a lack of concern for others, especially when people push instead of waiting their turn. It can also mean placing an object somewhere with rough, careless force. Related idioms, including “shove it into” and “shove your way through,” emphasize effort, haste, or determination rather than polished manners. As a noun, shoving may refer either to an individual act of pushing or to the general disturbance produced by a crowd pressing together. In formal writing, more specific verbs such as pushing, squeezing, jostling, or forcing may be preferable when greater precision is required.
To push someone or something with force, often to make space, pass through, or place it somewhere.
"They shoved the door open."
In its present-participle use, this form often describes a repeated or vigorous action and may suggest rudeness or urgency.
The act of pushing forcefully or the commotion caused by people pushing one another.
"The crowd moved forward amid a great deal of shoving."
Usually treated as an uncountable noun for a collective disturbance, although “shovings” occurs in formal or technical contexts.
Rare; “shoving” is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The report recorded several shovings near the entrance."
Shoving is what happens when a push stops being polite and starts making room.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shoving come from?
Shoving was formed by adding the suffix “-ing” to shove, with the final “e” dropped according to normal English spelling conventions. The deeper origin of shove is less certain; it appears in Middle English in forms such as shoven and is commonly traced to Old English scūfan, meaning “to push,” with cognates in other Germanic languages. The modern noun sense developed from the action expressed by the verb.
Related word forms
How shoving is actually used
The word often suggests force, impatience, or disregard for personal space, so it may carry an impolite or disapproving connotation. In “shove something into” and similar constructions, it can mean placing something roughly or making it fit with difficulty.
Easily confused with shoving
Shoving means pushing with force, whereas shoveling means moving material such as soil or snow with a shovel.