- force
- [[t]fɔ͟ː(r)s[/t]]
♦forces, forcing, forced1) VERB If someone forces you to do something, they make you do it even though you do not want to, for example by threatening you.
[V n to-inf] He was charged with abducting a taxi driver and forcing him to drive a bomb to Downing Street...
[V n to-inf] He was forced to resign by Russia's conservative parliament at the beginning of December...
[V n] I cannot force you in this. You must decide...
[V n prep/adv] They were grabbed by three men who appeared to force them into a car.
2) VERB If a situation or event forces you to do something, it makes it necessary for you to do something that you would not otherwise have done.[V n to-inf] A back injury forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon...
[V n into/to/out of n] He turned right, down a dirt road that forced him into four-wheel drive...
[V n into/to/out of n] She finally was forced to the conclusion that she wouldn't get another paid job in her field.
3) VERB If someone forces something on or upon you, they make you accept or use it when you would prefer not to.[V n on/upon n] To force this agreement on the nation is wrong.
Syn:4) VERB If you force something into a particular position, you use a lot of strength to make it move there.[V n prep/adv] They were forcing her head under the icy waters, drowning her.
5) VERB If someone forces a lock, a door, or a window, they break the lock or fastening in order to get into a building without using a key.[V n] That evening police forced the door of the flat and arrested Mr Roberts...
[V n adj] He tried to force the window open but it was jammed shut.
6) N-UNCOUNT If someone uses force to do something, or if it is done by force, strong and violent physical action is taken in order to achieve it.The government decided against using force to break-up the demonstrations.
...the guerrillas' efforts to seize power by force.
7) N-UNCOUNT Force is the power or strength which something has.The force of the explosion shattered the windows of several buildings...
It looked as though the storm had an awful lot of force.
Syn:8) N-COUNT: with supp, oft N in/behind n If you refer to someone or something as a force in a particular type of activity, you mean that they have a strong influence on it.For years the army was the most powerful political force in the country...
The band are still as innovative a force in British music as they were when they started...
One of the driving forces behind this recent expansion is the growth of services.
He changed our world through the force of his ideas...
Perhaps your force of argument might have made some difference.
10) N-COUNT: usu pl, usu with supp You can use forces to refer to processes and events that do not appear to be caused by human beings, and are therefore difficult to understand or control....the protection of mankind against the forces of nature: epidemics, predators, floods, hurricanes...
The principle of market forces was applied to some of the countries most revered institutions...
Is it really the Holy Spirit moving me, or is it some evil force?
11) N-VAR In physics, a force is the pulling or pushing effect that something has on something else....the earth's gravitational force.
...protons and electrons trapped by magnetic forces in the Van Allen belts.
12) N-UNCOUNT: N num Force is used before a number to indicate a wind of a particular speed or strength, especially a very strong wind.The airlift was conducted in force ten winds...
Northerly winds will increase to force six by midday.
13) VERB If you force a smile or a laugh, you manage to smile or laugh, but with an effort because you are unhappy.[V n] Joe forced a smile, but underneath he was a little disturbed...
[V-ed] `Why don't you offer me a drink?' he asked, with a forced smile.
14) N-COUNT: usu pl Forces are groups of soldiers or military vehicles that are organized for a particular purpose....the deployment of American forces in the region.
15) N-PLURAL The forces means the army, the navy, or the air force, or all three.The more senior you become in the forces, the more likely you are to end up in a desk job.
It was hard for a police officer to make friends outside the force.
17) → See also , armed forces, , peacekeeping, , tour de force, workforce18) PHRASE: PHR n If something happens by force of a particular quality, action, or set of circumstances, it happens because of the nature or intensity of that quality, action, or set of circumstances....converting the sceptics by force of argument.
...its promise to free Kuwait by force of arms.
19) PHRASE: usu from/by PHR If you do something from force of habit, you do it because you have always done it in the past, rather than because you have thought carefully about it.He looked around from force of habit, but nobody paid any attention to him...
Unconsciously, by force of habit, she plugged the coffee pot in.
20) PHRASE: v-link PHR A law, rule, or system that is in force exists or is being used.Although the new tax is already in force, you have until November to lodge an appeal.
21) PHRASE: PHR after v When people do something in force, they do it in large numbers.Voters turned out in force for their first taste of multi-party elections.
Syn:in strength22) PHR-RECIP: V inflects, pl-n PHR, PHR with n If you join forces with someone, you work together in order to achieve a common aim or purpose.Both groups joined forces to persuade voters to approve a tax break for the industry...
William joined forces with businessman Nicholas Court to launch the new vehicle.
23) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR through/into n If you force your way through or into somewhere, you have to push or break things that are in your way in order to get there.The miners were armed with clubs as they forced their way through a police cordon...
He forced his way into a house shouting for help.
Phrasal Verbs:
English dictionary. 2008.
