3 syllables: com, press, ing. Stress on press.
kuhm-PRES-ing
/kəmˈpɹɛsɪŋ/
compressing is pronounced kuhm-PRES-ing (/kəmˈpɹɛsɪŋ/). It has three syllables (com-press-ing), with the stress on "press". Compressing is the present participle form of compress, meaning to press something so that it becomes tighter or more compact. In usage, it often describes action in ongoing or progressive contexts, such as compressing data to save space or compressing a material to remove air. The term conveys deliberate reduction in volume or size through applying pressure, typically in technical, scientific, or everyday settings.
Compressing is the present participle form of compress, meaning to press something so that it becomes tighter or more compact. In usage, it often describes action in ongoing or progressive contexts, such as compressing data to save space or compressing a material to remove air. The term conveys deliberate reduction in volume or size through applying pressure, typically in technical, scientific, or everyday settings.
"The engineer is compressing the air to test the tank's tolerance."
"She is compressing the data to fit the file within the upload limit."
"The photographer is compressing the film to create a tighter exposure."
Say com-PRESS-ing with primary stress on the second syllable. In IPA: kəmˈprɛs.ɪŋ. Ensure a clean /p/ closure and a short, crisp /ˈpr/ onset. For gradual speech, keep the /ˈpr/ tightly linked to /ɛ/, and finish with a clear velar nasal /ŋ/. Audio reference: standard American pronouncing dictionaries use kəmˈprɛsɪŋ.
Common errors include unstressing the second syllable (com-PRESS-ing instead of kəmˈprɛsɪŋ), causing flat intonation, and mispronouncing the final -ing as /ɪn/ or /ɪŋ/ with weak /ŋ/. Correct approach: end with a crisp /ɪŋ/ rather than a nasalized or reduced vowel. Keep the /p/ release clean before /r/ and avoid adding extra vowel sounds between /pr/ and /ɛ/.
In US and UK, the main vowel /ɛ/ in 'press' is similar, but rhotic US speakers may have a more pronounced /ɹ/ before /ɛ/. Australian speakers often have a slightly more centralized vowel quality in the /ɪŋ/ ending and may reduce the /ə/ in the first syllable. Overall, the second syllable bears primary stress in all, with minor vowel quality shifts and rhoticity differences.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /pr/ after a reduced /kəm/ onset, creating a momentary coordination challenge for the lips and tongue. The /ʃ/ or /s/ effect is not present here, but maintaining clean lip seal for /p/ and rapid /r/ transition can be tricky. Additionally, projecting the /ɛ/ clearly within two fast intervals requires pedal control and precise timing.
The word centers a stressed /ɛ/ vowel immediately after a /pr/ cluster, then an /ɪŋ/ ending; its challenge is keeping /pr/ tightly integrated with /ɛ/ without adding extraneous vowel. The first syllable also has a reduced schwa in casual speech, so you must restore it in careful speech: /kəmˈprɛsɪŋ/. The final nasal is not velarized, which some learners mispronounce.
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Compress originates from the Latin com- (together) + premere (to press). The English form appeared in the 17th century, formed under the influence of earlier French compress- and Latin tradition. The suffix -ing marks the present participle and gerund forms. The core sense—pressing together, reducing size—has remained stable since its earliest uses, though its applications expanded with science and technology, including data compression, material science, and mechanical systems. The concept of compression, from the physical act of pressing to the abstract reduction of data or forces, evolved with industrialization and digital technology, making compressing a common term across many disciplines. First known uses appear in engineering and physics writings, where practitioners described compressing gases, liquids, and solids, and later in computer science as data compression became essential. Over time, compressing has maintained its general sense of reducing volume by applying pressure while also acquiring specialized meanings in data, material science, and medicine, reflecting the word’s robust, transferable concept of tightening or condensing.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "compressing" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "compressing" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "compressing"
-ing sounds
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