compel

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++com·pel /kəmˈpel/ ●●○ verb (compelled, compelling) [transitive]  1  FORCE somebody TO DO somethingto force someone to do something 强迫，逼迫 → compulsioncompel somebody to do something The law will compel employers to provide health insurance. 这项法律将强制雇主提供健康保险。 She felt compelled to resign because of the scandal. 因为这个丑闻，她感到必须辞职。► see thesaurus at force2  formalCAUSE to make people have a particular feeling or attitude 使发生；引起〔某种感情或态度〕 → compulsion His performance compelled the audience’s attention. 他的表演吸引了观众的注意力。→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

compel• Chang's performance compels attention.• It is also a satisfying behind-the-scenes tour for foodies, full of compelling characters and anecdotes.• The other compelling element of this marine encounter is the sheer physical and imaginative space that such a gathering entails.• The ombudsman will have power to recommend that a lawyer or professional body pay compensation, but not to compel payment.• So there was a compelling push for change in science.• Force is the precondition for compelling the majority of people to accept this pretension.• Christians had been compelled to give up meetings for corporate worship, but still kept up small prayer meetings in houses.• I think every guy who can scribble slightly better than he dribbles has felt compelled to share the same old tale.• All the young men in the area were compelled to work in the quarries and coal mines.• He takes border stereotypes and presents them in interesting and compelling ways.• The attorney general has the right to compel witnesses to appear in court.felt compelled• County officials felt compelled to comply.• Reno apparently felt compelled to deny not just that she was a lesbian, but that she had any sexuality at all.• Even Massachusetts felt compelled to expel many free blacks.• Newly married and ecstatically happy, he yet felt compelled to offer himself for one of the war's most hazardous enterprises.• Mike Teague felt compelled to punch the wild Tinnock away and was in turn punched.• In 1960, though, he felt compelled to return to the painting.• But because there were those who wanted me to fail, I felt compelled to succeed.• Many councillors said they felt compelled to vote against the motion because they believed in the tenant farmers freedom of choice.Origin compel (1300-1400) Latin compellere, from com- ( → COM-) + pellere “to drive”

com·pel verbChineseSyllable  

someone to force to do something Corpus

compel
com‧pel /kəmˈpel/ verb (past tense and past participle compelled, present participle compelling) [transitive]1. to force someone to do something ⇨ compulsion
    compel somebody to do something
    The law will compel employers to provide health insurance.
    She felt compelled to resign because of the scandal.
2. formal to make people have a particular feeling or attitude ⇨ compulsion:
    His performance compelled the audience’s attention.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ force to make someone do something they do not want to do. Used when people or situations make you do something: They were beaten and forced to confess to crimes they had not committed. | The drought forced millions of farmers to sell their cattle.
   ▪ make to force someone to do something by using pressure, threats, or violence. Make somebody do something is more common than force somebody to do something in everyday English: Her parents disapproved of Alex and they made her stop seeing him. | Two men with guns made the staff hand over the money.
   ▪ pressure (also pressurize British English) to try to force someone to do something by making them feel that they should do it: Some employers pressure their staff into working very long hours. | She felt they were trying to pressurize her into getting married.
   ▪ blackmail to force someone to give you money or do what you want by threatening to tell embarrassing secrets about them: She tried to blackmail him with photographs of them together at the hotel.
   ▪ compel [usually passive] formal to force someone to do something using official power or authority. Also used when someone has to do something because of their situation: The town was surrounded and compelled to surrender. | I felt compelled to offer them some kind of explanation. | You are compelled by law to carry an ID card.
   ▪ coerce /kəʊˈɜːs $ ˈkoʊɜːrs/ formal to force someone to do something by threatening them: Local people were coerced into joining the rebel army.
   ▪ be obliged to do something formal if someone is obliged to do something, they must do it because it is the law or the rule, or because of the situation they are in: You are not obliged to say anything which may harm your defence in court. | They were obliged to sell the land.

com·pelBrE /kəmˈpel/ 🔊NAmE /kəmˈpel/ 🔊 verbpresent simple - I / you / we / they compel BrE /kəmˈpel/ 🔊 NAmE /kəmˈpel/ 🔊present simple - he / she / it compels BrE /kəmˈpelz/ 🔊 NAmE /kəmˈpelz/ 🔊past simple compelled BrE /kəmˈpeld/ 🔊 NAmE /kəmˈpeld/ 🔊past participle compelled BrE /kəmˈpeld/ 🔊 NAmE /kəmˈpeld/ 🔊 -ing form compelling BrE /kəmˈpelɪŋ/ 🔊 NAmE /kəmˈpelɪŋ/ 🔊 (formal) to force sb to do sth; to make sth necessary 强迫；迫使；使必须◆~ sb to do sth The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children. 这项法律可强制父亲定期支付子女的费用。🔊🔊◆I feel compelled to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your book. 我觉得必须写信告诉你我是多么欣赏你的书。🔊🔊◆~ sth Last year ill health compelled his retirement. 去年他因身体不好被迫退休了。🔊🔊~ sth (not used in the progressive tenses 不用于进行时) to cause a particular reaction 引起反应◆He spoke with an authority that compelled the attention of the whole crowd. 他用权威的口气讲话，引起了整个人群的注意。🔊🔊  ➡  see also compulsion