Video lesson · Workplace English
What Does “Push Back” Mean at Work?
Pushing back means asking for a proposal, assumption, or request to change. The lesson shows how that differs from simply disagreeing or refusing.
What you’ll learn
- Name the proposal or request you want to change.
- Give a reason or a practical alternative.
- Leave the final decision with the person who owns it.
Try it: “I want to push back on that deadline. Could we reduce the scope or move the date?”
Read video transcript
What does push back mean at work? To push back means to challenge, resist, or renegotiate something so a concern gets addressed before it moves forward.
It's an active move, not a passing comment — you're trying to change what happens next: get more time, revise a number, or add a safeguard before things move forward.
For example: I'd push back on that timeline slightly — the review step needs two more days.
One detail worth knowing: push back is two words as a verb. Pushback is one word as a noun, as in: we expect some pushback from Legal.
Want more examples? Read the related guide.