stress 和 pressure 均可表示“压力”，用法如下：

1. stress 的用法

(1) stress 的意思是“因忧虑而产生的压力”，且因为这种压力而无法使自己放松下来。如：

The stress of her job caused her to lose sleep. 工作的压力使她失眠。

They were worn down by the stress of feeding five children. 养活5个孩子的压力使他们精疲力竭。

The stress was beginning to take its toll on their marriage. 这种压力开始影响到他们的婚姻。

(2) 指重量或挤压所产生的压力。如：

The distribution of stress is uniform across the bar. 杆上压力分布是均衡的。

Shoes with high heels put a great deal of stress on knees and ankles. 高跟鞋会对膝盖和脚踝产生很大的压力。

2. pressure的用法

pressure有两个主要意思是：

(1) 指利用影响、辩论或威胁等而施加给某人以压力。如：

Did your father put pressure on you? 你父亲给你施加压力了吗？

Back-benchers put pressure on the government to provide safeguards. 普通议员向政府施压以提供保障措施。

(2) 指因忧虑或工作过劳而产生的工作或生活上的压力，此时与 stress 大致同义。如：

I hate being put under so much pressure. 我讨厌承受如此大的压力。

It’s hard to stay sane under such awful pressure. 处于这种可怕的压力之下，不疯才怪呢。

Now that the deadline is approaching we all feel under pressure. 最后期限就要到了，我们都感到压力很大。

(3) 指政治或经济的等方面的压力。如：

The government acted in response to economic pressure. 政府因经济压力而采取行动。

The statement was made against a background of intense pressure from the government. 这一声明是顶着政府的巨大压力发表的。

(4) 指重量或挤压所产生的压力，与 stress 用法相近。如：

Can you take my blood pressure? 你能量一下我的血压吗?

The metal frame tends to twist under pressure. 这种金属框受压后容易变形。

There appears to be a problem with the oil pressure. 看来是油压出了问题。

The pressure of the water turns the wheel.水的压力使轮子转动。

How do you demonstrate that the pressure remains constant? 你怎样证明压力一直不变？