Pronunciations (11)
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/fɔːs/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/foːs/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- British
- New-Zealand
- Southern
- Standard
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/foɹs/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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[fo̞ɹs]
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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/foɾs/
Pronunciation notes
- Scotland
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/fɔːs/
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/foəs/
Pronunciation notes
- Eastern-New-England
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/foɹs/
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/fɔəs/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
- obsolete
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/foː(ɾ)s/
Pronunciation notes
- South-Asia
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/fɒ(ɾ)s/
Pronunciation notes
- South-Asia
Noun
Ability to influence; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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the force of an appeal, an argument, or a contract
show of force
More examples (2)
He was, in the full force of the words, a good man.
After his actions were challenged by foreign governments and Parliament initially tried to put a stop to his action, Denman returned home and argued his case with enough force that, by 1848, the Royal Navy was handed active permission and encouragement to raze every last slave factory they could find to the ground, and full authority to stop any ship, of any flag, that was thought to be a slaver, with a guarantee with^([sic]) no censure from the government.
A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). The generalized abstraction of this concept.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
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Torque is the rotational version of force.
Force is the result of fundamental interactions.
A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). A particular form or type of force.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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Most physicists deem there to be four fundamental forces: the weak force, the strong force, gravitation, and the electromagnetic force.
fictitious forces
More examples (1)
As the force that attracts conglomerates of matter to one another, gravity has a limitless pull.
A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). A particular form or type of force. A metaphysical and ubiquitous power from the fictional Star Wars universe created by George Lucas. See usage note.
Usage- capitalized
- Countable
- Humorous
- often
- Uncountable
- with the
- Examples
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More examples (1)
The Europeans tried, my goodness how they tried. But on the day the US proved too strong and too inspired. They were, dammit, just better. And when Leonard's putt dropped they clearly had the force with them as well.
The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.
Catrin: Are you gonna bring it me, or shall I use the Force?
A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). An instance of a physical force.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever.
Two forces acting upon the same point on an object will cancel out only if they have equal magnitude and opposite directions.
A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). Force understood as something of which there can be an amount.
Usage- possibly
- proscribed
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Heavier objects are those that are subject to more gravitational force.
Anything that is able to make a substantial change in a person or thing.
Usage- Countable
Something or anything that has the power to produce a physical effect upon something else, such as causing it to move or change shape.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Something that exerts influence.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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force of nature
Something that exerts influence. Something that, over time, influences a system with which it interacts (with a connotation of underlyingness, subtlety, or indirectness).
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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I believe that the main long-term force that guides a society's evolution is not the economy or the leaders, but the culture.
Some skeptics have attributed changing temperatures to forces out of our control, such as axial procession.
More examples (1)
market forces
Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
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which now they hold by force, and not by right
Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion. Either unlawful violence, as in a "forced entry", or lawful compulsion.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group).
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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air force; police force
Force Z
More examples (3)
Is Lucius general of the forces?
"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.[…]."
For Lothian and Borders Police, the early-morning raid had come at the end one of biggest investigations carried out by the force, which had originally presented a dossier of evidence on the murder of Jodi Jones to the Edinburgh procurator-fiscal, William Gallagher, on 25 November last year.
A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group). Any large, organized group involved in a military engagement.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group). Military personnel, collectively, including any vehicles, ships, or aircraft. More broadly, the military or police altogether.
Usage- Countable
- plural
- singular
- Uncountable
- Examples
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After only a week, Japanese forces had captured Singapore from the British.
reinforcements grew the American force in the area to 9,000
More examples (1)
Roman forces were
A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group). Military personnel, collectively, including any vehicles, ships, or aircraft. More broadly, the military or police altogether. Synonym of police force.
Usage- Countable
- plural
- singular
- Uncountable
- usually
- with-definite-article
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Q. All the time that he was on the force? A. I cannot say that; but there were men on with me when I was on the force who were very good Republicans. Q. During all this time you have been on the police force?
Some of those that work forces / Are the same that burn crosses
Niall was on the force, too, a detective in major crimes.
The state of having legal weight, of being legally valid,.
Usage- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The law will come into force in January.
A magic trick in which the outcome is known to the magician beforehand, especially one involving the apparent free choice of a card by another person.
Usage- Countable
Ability of an utterance or its element (word, form, prosody, ...) to effect a given meaning.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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When the aspectual force of the verbal categories weakens, the 'terminative', punctual or determinative value of the prefix gains in importance,...
The annualized instantaneous rate of change at a particular timepoint.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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force of mortality
Verb
To make someone or something do something, often regardless of their will.
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Captain Edward Carlisle[…]felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze,[…]; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.
The second problem is the economy, the shocking state of which has forced the decision to apply to the EU.
Housebuilders had warned that the higher costs involved would have forced them to build fewer homes and priced many homebuyers out of the market.
More examples (1)
The hourly Southampton to London Victoria service via Horsham has been axed, as has the direct Littlehampton-Bognor Regis service, forcing passengers to change [trains] at Barnham.
To constrain by force; to overcome the limitations or resistance of.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Shall wee force the general law of nature, which in all living creatures under heaven is seene to tremble at paine?
To drive (something) by force, to propel (generally + prepositional phrase or adverb).
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay / That scarce the victor forced the steel away.
to force the tyrant from his seat by war
More examples (2)
Ethelbert […]ordered that none should be forced into religion.
In a groundbreaking move, the Pentagon is compensating servicemen seriously hurt when an American tank convoy forced them off the road.
To cause to occur (despite inertia, resistance etc.); to produce through force.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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The comedian's jokes weren't funny, but I forced a laugh now and then.
More examples (1)
Janet Tobacman of Woman Organized for Reproductive Choice (WORC) in Chicago and New Jewish Agenda stated, "R2N2 needs omre discussion and action around sexuality in general," forcing a concern that had little discussion throughout the conference.
To forcibly open (a door, lock etc.).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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I forgot my keys in and so we had to force (open) the door.
To violate (a woman); to rape.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (2)
For yf ye were suche fyfty as ye be / ye were not able to make resystence ageynst this deuyl / here lyeth a duchesse deede the whiche was the fayrest of alle the world wyf to syre Howel / duc of Bretayne / he hath murthred her in forcynge her / and has slytte her vnto the nauyl
a young woman not farre from mee had headlong cast her selfe out of a high window, with intent to kill herselfe, only to avoid the ravishment of a rascally-base souldier that lay in her house, who offered to force her[…].
To exert oneself, to do one's utmost.
Usage- Intransitive
- Obsolete
- Reflexive
- Examples
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And I pray you for my sake to force yourselff there, that men may speke you worshyp.
To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress.
To create an out by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Jones forced the runner at second by stepping on the bag.
To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit that he/she does not hold.
To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
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VVhat can the Church force more?
To provide with forces; to reinforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
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Were they not forc’d with thoſe that ſhould be ours, / We might haue met them darefull, beard to beard, / And beate them backward home.
To allow the force of; to value; to care for.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
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For me, I force not argument a straw.
To grow (rhubarb) in the dark, causing it to grow early.
Noun
A waterfall or cascade.
Usage- Northern-England
- Countable
- Examples
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to see the falls or force of the river Kent
Verb
To stuff; to lard; to farce.
- Examples
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Wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit.
Noun
a powerful effect or influence
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the force of his eloquence easily persuaded them
(physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity
- Broader terms
- Examples
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force equals mass times acceleration
physical energy or intensity
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he hit with all the force he could muster
it was destroyed by the strength of the gale
More examples (1)
a government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man
group of people willing to obey orders
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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a public force is necessary to give security to the rights of citizens
a unit that is part of some military service
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he sent Caesar a force of six thousand men
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he may accomplish by craft in the long run what he cannot do by force and violence in the short one
one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the mysterious presence of an evil power
may the force be with you
More examples (1)
the forces of evil
a group of people having the power of effective action
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he joined forces with a band of adventurers
(of a law) having legal validity
- Synonyms
- Examples
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the law is still in effect
a putout of a base runner who is required to run; the putout is accomplished by holding the ball while touching the base to which the runner must advance before the runner reaches that base
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the shortstop got the runner at second on a force
Verb
to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means
- Examples
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She forced him to take a job in the city
He squeezed her for information
urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate
- Synonyms
move with force
- Synonyms
- Examples
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He pushed the table into a corner
impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably
- Synonyms
- Examples
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She forced her diet fads on him
squeeze like a wedge into a tight space
- Examples
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I squeezed myself into the corner
force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically
- Broader terms
- Examples
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She rammed her mind into focus
He drives me mad
do forcibly; exert force
- Examples
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Don't force it!
take by force
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Storm the fort