To squeeze means to press something firmly from opposite sides, usually with your hands. When you squeeze a tube of toothpaste, you push it between your fingers to force the paste out. When you squeeze a lemon, you press it to release the juice inside.

You can squeeze yourself into tight spaces: a tall person might have to squeeze into a small car, or you might squeeze through a crowded hallway between classes. When you give someone a hug, you might give them a gentle squeeze to show affection.

The word also means to barely fit something in, often when talking about time or space. If your schedule is packed but you manage to squeeze in a quick phone call to your grandmother, you've found a small gap in your busy day. A teacher might squeeze one more student into an already full class.

In tense situations, someone might put the squeeze on another person, meaning they're applying pressure to get what they want. Someone who demands lunch money is putting the squeeze on other students. When you feel squeezed, you feel pressured or trapped between difficult choices or circumstances, like being squeezed between wanting to play outside and needing to finish your homework.