/ fɔːs; NAmE fɔːrs/ noun , verb
■ noun
VIOLENT ACTION
1.
[ U ] violent physical action used to obtain or achieve sth :
The release of the hostages could not be achieved without the use of force.
The rioters were taken away by force .
The ultimatum contained the threat of military force.
We will achieve much more by persuasion than by brute force .
PHYSICAL STRENGTH
2.
[ U ] the physical strength of sth that is shown as it hits sth else :
the force of the blow / explosion / collision
The shopping centre took the full force of the blast.
STRONG EFFECT
3.
[ U ] the strong effect or influence of sth :
They realized the force of her argument.
He controlled himself by sheer force of will .
She spoke with force and deliberation.
SB / STH WITH POWER
4.
[ C ] a person or thing that has a lot of power or influence :
economic / market forces
the forces of good / evil
Ron is the driving force (= the person who has the most influence) behind the project.
She's a force to be reckoned with (= a person who has a lot of power and influence and should therefore be treated seriously) .
The expansion of higher education should be a powerful force for change .
AUTHORITY
5.
[ U ] the authority of sth :
These guidelines do not have the force of law .
The court ruled that these standards have force in British law.
GROUP OF PEOPLE
6.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] a group of people who have been organized for a particular purpose :
a member of the sales force
A large proportion of the labour force (= all the people who work in a particular company, area, etc.) is unskilled.
—see also workforce
MILITARY
7.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] a group of people who have been trained to protect other people, usually by using weapons :
a member of the security forces
rebel / government forces
a peace-keeping force
—see also air force , police force , task force
8.
the forces [ pl. ] ( BrE ) the army, navy and air force :
allied forces
—see also the armed forces
9.
forces [ pl. ] the weapons and soldiers that an army, etc. has, considered as things that may be used :
strategic nuclear forces.
POLICE
10.
the force [ sing. ] ( BrE ) the police force :
He joined the force twenty years ago.
PHYSICS
11.
[ C , U ] an effect that causes things to move in a particular way :
The moon exerts a force on the earth.
the force of gravity
magnetic / centrifugal force
OF WIND
12.
[ C , usually sing. ] a unit for measuring the strength of the wind :
a force 9 gale
a gale force wind
—see also tour de force
•
IDIOMS
- bring sth into force
- come / enter into force
- force of habit
- the forces of nature
- in force
- join / combine forces (with sb)
—more at spent
■ verb
MAKE SB DO STH
1.
[ often passive ] force sb (into sth / into doing sth) to make sb do sth that they do not want to do
SYN compel :
[ vn , vn to inf ]
The President was forced into resigning.
The President was forced to resign.
[ vn to inf ]
I was forced to take a taxi because the last bus had left.
She forced herself to be polite to them.
[ vn ]
He didn't force me—I wanted to go.
Ill health forced him into early retirement.
( informal , humorous )
'I shouldn't really have any more.' 'Go on— force yourself !'
USE PHYSICAL STRENGTH
2.
to use physical strength to move sb/sth into a particular position :
[ vn ]
to force a lock / window / door (= to break it open using force)
He tried to force a copy of his book into my hand.
to force an entry (= to enter a building using force)
She forced her way through the crowd of reporters.
[ vn - adj ]
The door had been forced open .
MAKE STH HAPPEN
3.
[ vn ] to make sth happen, especially before other people are ready :
He was in a position where he had to force a decision.
Building a new road here will force house prices down.
A SMILE / LAUGH
4.
[ vn ] to make yourself smile, laugh, etc. rather than doing it naturally :
She managed to force a smile.
FRUIT / PLANTS
5.
[ vn ] to make fruit, plants, etc. grow or develop faster than normal by keeping them in special conditions :
forced rhubarb
( figurative )
It is unwise to force a child's talent.
•
IDIOMS
- force sb's hand
- force the issue
- force the pace
—more at throat
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- force sth back
- force sth down
- force sb/sth on / upon sb
- force sth out of sb
••
WORD FAMILY
force noun verb
forceful adjective
forced adjective (≠ unforced )
forcible adjective
enforce verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French force (noun), forcer (verb), based on Latin fortis strong.