force
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++force1 /fɔːs $ fɔːrs/ ●●● S2 W1 noun 1 military 军事的 a) [countable usually plural]GROUP OF PEOPLE a group of people who have been trained to do military work for a government or other organization 武装部队，部队government/military/defence etc forces The riots were suppressed by government forces. 暴乱被政府军镇压了。 He strengthened US forces in the Gulf. 他加强了美军在海湾地区的军力。 a plan to disarm the rebel forces (=those fighting against the government) 解除叛军武装的计划 b) the forcesPM British English the army, navy, and air force 武装力量；陆海空三军部队；军队in the forces Both her sons are in the forces. 她的两个儿子都在军队里。 c) nuclear/conventional forces nuclear weapons or ordinary weapons 核武器/常规武器 short-range nuclear forces 短程核武器 → air force, armed forces, ground forces, → peacekeeping force at peacekeeping, → security forces at security(1), task force(2)2 military action 军事行动 [uncountable] military action used as a way of achieving your aims 军事行动，武力 Peace cannot be imposed by force. 和平不能通过武力来实现。 The UN will allow the use of force against aircraft violating the zone. 联合国将允许对侵犯这一地区的飞机采取军事行动。3 violence 暴力 [uncountable]VIOLENT violent physical action used to get what you want 〔为得到某结果而使用的〕暴力，武力 The police used force to overpower the demonstrators. 警方动用了武力来制服示威者。by force In the end he had to be thrown out of the house by force. 到最后，人们不得不强行把他赶出了房子。 They kicked the door down using sheer brute force. 他们全凭蛮力将门踹倒了。4 physical power 力 [uncountable] the amount of physical power with which something moves or hits another thing 〔物体移动或撞击时的〕力，力量 → strengthforce of The force of the explosion blew out all the windows. 爆炸的冲力把所有的窗子都震碎了。with great/considerable/increasing etc force He raised his hand and struck her with terrifying force. 他举起手，狠命地打她。5 natural power 自然力 [countable, uncountable] a natural power or event 自然力 the force of gravity 引力 powerful natural forces such as earthquakes, floods, and drought 地震、洪水、干旱等强大的自然力 the forces of nature 大自然的威力6 organized group 有组织的团体 [countable usually singular] a group of people who have been trained and organized to do a particular job 〔受过训练、有组织地做某一件事的〕一群人 the company’s sales force 该公司的销售队伍 the quality of the teaching force 教师队伍的素质 → police force7 strong influence 强烈的影响 [countable]EFFECT/INFLUENCE something or someone who is powerful and has a lot of influence on the way things happen 〔对事情发展〕有影响力的事物[人]the driving force (behind something/somebody) (=the person or thing that makes something happen) （某人/某事背后的）推动力 Betty Coward was the driving force behind the project. 贝蒂•科沃德是这个项目的推动者。a force for change/peace/democracy etc (=someone or something that makes change, peace etc more likely to happen) 变革/和平/民主等的推动力 Healthy competition is a force for innovation. 良性竞争是革新的推动力。 He’s a quick and decisive player – a force to be reckoned with (=a person, team, company etc that influences what happens). 他打球敏捷果断，是个不可小觑的人物。 The fall in prices was due to forces beyond their control. 价格下降是由他们无法控制的因素造成的。 → market forces8 powerful effect 威力 [uncountable]EFFECT/INFLUENCE the powerful effect that something has on you 〔某事物产生的〕威力，影响力9 join/combine forces (with somebody/something) UNITEto work together so that you can deal with a problem, be more powerful etc 〔为解决问题、壮大力量等而〕（与某人/某组织）联合，合作，同心协力10 in force 11 come into force/bring something into force if a new law, rule, change etc comes or is brought into force, it starts to exist 开始生效/使某法规开始实施12 by/through/out of force of habit HABITbecause you have always done a particular thing and it is difficult to change 出于习惯13. by/through force of circumstance(s) British EnglishEFFECT/INFLUENCE if something happens by force of circumstance, events outside your control make it happen 由于形势的影响14 wind 风15. POLICE 警察the force SCPa word meaning the police force, used especially by police officers 警察部队〔尤为警方用语〕16 the forces of good/evil etc literary people or things that increase the amount of good or bad in the world 善/恶等的力量 → labour force, tour de force, workforcen COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + forcesthe armed forces (=a country’s military organizations, including the army, navy, and air force)Israel refused to withdraw its armed forces from the area. American/British/French etc forcesSeveral battles took place involving American forces.government forces (=soldiers fighting for the government)Government forces reportedly shot dead 300 unarmed civilians.security forces (=who protect a country against people who are fighting the government)The government claimed that the security forces had destroyed the rebels’ headquarters.rebel forces (=who are fighting against the government)The village was attacked by rebel forces.military forcesHe served with the military forces during the war.a defence forceShould the European Union have its own defence force?enemy forcesEnemy forces now occupy substantial areas of the city.a peacekeeping forceA large UN peacekeeping force is being assembled.special forces (=who are specially trained to fight against guerilla or terrorist groups)Special forces were employed to support the local army.phrasesbe in the forcesHer husband is in the forces.verbsjoin the forces (=become a soldier, sailor etc)He was too young to join the forces when the war broke out.withdraw your forcesExpecting the Allies to attack again, he began to withdraw his forces eastward. Examples from the Corpus
force• But when you get some one who can really play them, they sure are a force to be reckoned with.• the Air Force• Manuel Bonett, head of the armed forces.• Her husband tried to get the children back by force.• Centrifugal force can be greater than the force of gravity.• Most market professionals agree that the tax-deferred funds are a major force behind the exponential growth in stock prices.• Instead, there is a narrow vision of a world dominated by market forces.• The use of physical force by teachers tended to promote violent behaviour by pupils.• Barnes is a member of the St. Paul Police Force.• Rebel forces are seeking to overthrow the government.• the company's sales force• What a display of grandeur and sheer force of will!• The United States is one of dozens of nations that provide troops for the 2,400-member Sinai force.• The college must cut 10% of its teaching force for the fall semester.• They occur in areas where the Earth's crust is subjected to tensional forces, trying to pull it apart.• The force of public opinion stopped the highway project.• The force of the explosion shook buildings several blocks away.• The police do not use force when arresting people unless it's absolutely necessary.• I had to use force to get the window open.• We want to end the demonstration without force.the use of force• These help to reinforce the hinge side of your doors against the use of force.• Today's Soviet leaders are the products of a long-standing tradition of thinking about war and the use of force.• When, in November, it blessed the use of force to achieve this goal, the fanfare was forgivable.• Perhaps most important is the growing chance for miscalculation that accompanies any policy involving the use of force.• The UN tries to limit the use of force in conflicts.• This explains Albright's having ruled out the use of force.• Yet as Dunkers they could not in conscience support the use of force or pay disrespect to the Crown.• The maintenance of the system of slavery through the use of force was a primary problem of colonial defense.• Clearly the current situation in which the use of force is illegal except in self-defence is inadequate.brute force• Their only ultimate recourse is to deal with each other by brute force.• By brute force they began to pull the raft sideways away from the danger.• In the analogue world, the reshaping of a page of information or a physical object requires some exercise of brute force.• Sometimes you have to use sheer brute force to get these things open.• This has been a war fought more with technology than brute force.• Teravainen belonged to the brute force school; off the tee, he was as long as anybody.• In the short term this brute force approach appears to be the best method of incorporating linguistic knowledge into computers.• Even his strong-man routine seems devoid of any intelligence or style and focuses, instead, upon brute force and muscle.• Was brute force and intimidation all they knew?• With brute force techniques ... they do achieve about the same end result as we do with much more sophisticated techniques.with great/considerable/increasing etc force• Bringing his right fist back over his shoulder he punched Tommy in the face with considerable force.• Denice jabs it with considerable force into our forehead.• He saw a figure moving towards him, and felt himself pushed, with great force, into a wall.• The urge to acquire interesting and possibly valuable things is widespread and can strike unexpectedly and sometimes with great force.• There is a ridiculous nature-boy sentimentalism that with increasing force is taking over.forces of nature• The shape and size of creatures is determined by the many fundamental forces of Nature.• Since then, they have represented the darker, subterranean forces of nature.• It was one of man's more successful attempts at curbing the forces of nature.• But they were not willing to see one acre of irrigated land succumb to the forces of nature, regardless of cost.• This tiny camp in the wilderness looked very lonely, very vulnerable to the forces of nature ranged silently around it.• They will cross it only if the undirected forces of nature happen to lead them across.• The shortages and panics are not the result of unpredictable forces of nature or freely functioning markets.• There was already by now a political and religious system, whose primitive beliefs deified the various forces of nature.teaching force• Creating a teaching force which is adequate to the rapidly growing system has been another problem.• It could be that this development marks the beginning of a teaching force which is professional in reality as well as in name.• I am going to suggest a teaching force composed of three essential parts.• This saves on training facilities and teacher trainers and also helps fill the gaps in the ranks of the existing teaching force.• This leads to a final question that we ought to ask in reference to the three-part teaching force I have proposed.• To do so effectively requires a commitment from the teaching force - from headteacher to probationer.• Rather it points to the fact that there has been a subtle change in the composition of the teaching force.• The teaching force then has the task of meeting the criteria established by these guidelines.forces beyond ... control• War, rearranged borders, a country assembled and disassembled by forces beyond their control.• Our dreams are threatened by forces beyond our control.• It is difficult to resist the conclusion that after 1208 Innocent had been outmanoeuvred by certain forces beyond his control.• In a sense, owning the benefits your organization achieves is the opposite of blaming consequences on forces beyond your control.force2 ●●● S2 W1 verb [transitive] 1 make SB do STH 迫使某人做某事 to make someone do something they do not want to do 强制，逼迫，迫使 → persuade2 make SB/STH move 使某人/某物移动PUSH [always + adverb/preposition] to make someone or something move in a particular direction or into a different position, especially through or using great strength 用力推动 SYN push3 force your way through/into etc something (also force your way in/out/past etc)PUSH to push very hard in order to get somewhere 强行通过/进入某处等4 make STH happen 使某事发生 to make something happen or change, especially more quickly than planned or expected 使发生[改变]〔尤指比计划或预计的要快〕5 force a door/lock/window to open a door etc using physical strength, often causing damage 强行打开门/锁/窗6 force the issue FORCE somebody TO DO somethingto do something that makes it necessary for someone to make decisions or take action, instead of waiting to see what happens 强迫立即作出决定；迫使采取行动7 force somebody’s hand FORCE somebody TO DO somethingto make someone do something unwillingly or earlier than they had intended 迫使某人采取行动；迫使某人提前行动8. force a smile/laugh etc FORCE somebody TO DO somethingto make yourself smile, laugh etc even though you feel upset or annoyed 强作笑颜/勉强一笑等n GRAMMAR: Comparisonforce• You force someone to do something: The robbers forced him to hand over the money.• Force is often used in the passive: The minister was forced to resign because of the scandal.make• You make someone do something: The robbers made him hand over the money. ✗Don’t say: make someone to do somethingcompel • You compel someone to do something: The court can compel witnesses to give evidence.• Compel is very often used in the passive: He became seriously ill and was compelled to retire two years later.oblige• You say that someone is obliged to do something. Oblige is almost always used in the passive: Hotels are obliged by law to install smoke alarms. THESAURUSforce to make someone do something they do not want to do. Used when people or situations make you do something 〔人或形势〕迫使They were beaten and forced to confess to crimes they had not committed. 他们遭到殴打，被迫承认自己并没有犯下的罪行。The drought forced millions of farmers to sell their cattle. 旱灾迫使数百万农民卖掉自己的牛。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 〔通过施压、威胁或暴力〕迫使〔在日常英语中，make sb do sth比force sb to do sth更常用〕Her parents disapproved of Alex and they made her stop seeing him. 她父母不喜欢亚历克斯，逼着她不再和他见面。Two men with guns made the staff hand over the money. 两名持枪男子迫使员工交出钱款。pressure (also pressurize British English) to try to force someone to do something by making them feel that they should do it 强迫，对…施加压力Some employers pressure their staff into working very long hours. 有些雇主强迫员工长时间工作。She felt they were trying to pressurize her into getting married. 她觉得他们是在逼她结婚。blackmail to force someone to give you money or do what you want by threatening to tell embarrassing secrets about them 勒索，敲诈She tried to blackmail him with photographs of them together at the hotel. 她试图用和他一起在酒店里的照片敲诈他。compel formal to force someone to do something using official power or authority. Also used when someone has to do something because of their situation 〔以权势〕强迫；〔形势〕逼迫The town was surrounded and compelled to surrender. 该镇遭到包围，被迫投降。I felt compelled to offer them some kind of explanation. 我感觉有必要向他们解释一下。nYou are compelled by law to carry an ID card.coerce /kəʊˈɜːs $ ˈkoʊɜːrs/ formal to force someone to do something by threatening them 胁迫Local people were coerced into joining the rebel army. 当地民众被迫加入叛军。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 〔因法规或形势〕被迫做某事You are not obliged to say anything which may harm your defence in court. 你不必说任何可能在法庭上对你的辩护不利的话。They were obliged to sell the land. 他们被迫变卖土地。 PHRASAL VERBS→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
force• The Master tried both persuasion and threats but ... was compelled at length to send for a constable and resort to force.• The economy has forced a lot of companies out of business.• She tried to force her feet into the shoes but they were too small.• Her parents are trying to force her into marrying a man she hardly knows.• Thieves had tied him up and forced him to lie on the floor.• It infected his spine and forced him to spend months in bed.• And to know these, the artist cannot force his own intentions upon nature.• I had never thought of buying an insurance policy, and I wasn't going to be forced into it by some young salesman.• Here, girls are often forced into prostitution because they have no other means of earning money.• Some idiot forced Laura off the road yesterday.• Eddie feels that he was forced out of his job in order to make way for a younger man.• Women's organizations are trying to force the government to appoint more women to senior positions.• Firefighters had to force the lock.• I finally managed to force the package through the small letterbox.• In theory, the power crisis could force the state to work together more.• All the hostages were forced to hand over their passports.• Often they were forced to leap blindly into ravines five or ten feet deep.• If forced to resign, get a good book deal.• To round off his day of despair Button was forced to retire with an exhaust failure six laps from home.• They had so little money that they were forced to sell the farm.• She claimed was forced to take part in the robbery by her husband.• They were halfway up the mountain, when the weather became so bad that they were forced to turn back.• When the information was slow in coming, the announcers were forced to use their imaginations to fill in the details.• You don't have to come if you don't want to. Nobody's forcing you.• If you don't comply I'm afraid we'll have to force you.force somebody/something into (doing) something• That has forced buyers into a market itching for some payback.• There is no attempt to force them into a mould of correct knowledge.• But she forced the Volvo into first, the engine screaming as she drove fifteen or twenty yards down the road.• Colin hated the way he inspected the rag before folding the contents into the centre and forcing it into his trouser pocket.• He forced his breath into laughs.• Both men and women must also look for paid work and many have been forced to migrate into the cities.• All magic is dangerous and the titanic forces drawn into the realm of Ulthuan are more dangerous than any other.• In 31 states Perot won more than 20 percent of the vote, and he forced Clinton into third place in Utah.forced ... open• The other had been forced open.• She forced her eyes open, and at once her heart was pounding.• I forced my eyes open and woke up.• I forced myself to open my fingers, to relax my vigilance, to fall asleep.• The raider forced him to open the safe and fled with cash.• Secluded rear doors are especially vulnerable: they are often forced open with a simple well-aimed kick.force prices/interest rates etc down/up• The second is that the spending increase leads to the economy overheating and thus forces interest rates up.From Longman Business Dictionaryforceforce1 /fɔːsfɔːrs/ noun1[countable] a group of people who have been trained and organized for a particular purposeOur division has expanded its sales force (=the people in a company who sell the company’s products) to 160.2in forceLAW if a law or rule is in force, it exists and must be obeyedThese regulations have been in force since 1997.New EU directivescome into force (=start to operate) in April.3[countable usually singular] something or someone that has a strong influence on an activity or the way events developShe is the driving force (=person or thing that has the strongest influence on the way things happen) behind the group’s creation.The group is certainly a force to be reckoned with (=has a lot of power and influence) in the publishing industry.4market forces [plural]ECONOMICS the way that the behaviour of buyers and sellers affects the levels of SUPPLY AND DEMAND in a particular market, especially when the government does nothing to change thisBy ending the electricity monopoly, market forces rather than state utilities will set prices.Whether there is enough demand to sustain all of the car manufacturers is a question we will have toleave to market forces (=allow market forces to take effect so that the market works in the most efficient way).5[uncountable] influence or authorityThe City’s code of practice does not have the force of law. (=the same authority as the law)forceforce2 verb [transitive]1if a situation forces you to do something, it makes you do it, even though you do not want toforce somebody to do somethingMassive debts have forced them to close the store.We were forced to raise prices because of increased costs.2to make something happen against the wishes of the people who are affectedThe imposition of VAT would force the closure of 20% of regional newspapers.fears of a forced takeover → force something → down → force something → up→ See Verb tableOrigin force1 (1200-1300) Old French Latin fortis “strong”force1 noun →10-16
→n COLLOCATIONS1force2 verb →n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1
→PHRASAL VERBS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
→n COLLOCATIONS1force2 verb →n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1
→PHRASAL VERBS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
a group Corpus people have Business of who
force
force1 S2 W1 /fɔːs $ fɔːrs/ 
noun
a. [countable usually plural] a group of people who have been trained to do military work for a government or other organization
government/military/defence etc forces
The riots were suppressed by government forces.
He strengthened US forces in the Gulf.
a plan to disarm the rebel forces (=those fighting against the government)
b. the forces British English the army, navy, and air force
in the forces
Both her sons are in the forces.
c. nuclear/conventional forces nuclear weapons or ordinary weapons:
short-range nuclear forces ⇨ air force, armed forces, ground forces, ⇨ peacekeeping force at peacekeeping, ⇨ security forces at security(1), ⇨ task force(2)
2. MILITARY ACTION [uncountable] military action used as a way of achieving your aims:
Peace cannot be imposed by force.
The UN will allow the use of force against aircraft violating the zone.
3. VIOLENCE [uncountable] violent physical action used to get what you want:
The police used force to overpower the demonstrators.
by force
In the end he had to be thrown out of the house by force.
They kicked the door down using sheer brute force.
4. PHYSICAL POWER [uncountable] the amount of physical power with which something moves or hits another thing ⇨ strength
force of
The force of the explosion blew out all the windows.
with great/considerable/increasing etc force
He raised his hand and struck her with terrifying force.
5. NATURAL POWER [uncountable and countable] a natural power or event:
the force of gravity
powerful natural forces such as earthquakes, floods, and drought
the forces of nature
6. ORGANIZED GROUP [countable usually singular] a group of people who have been trained and organized to do a particular job:
the company’s sales force
the quality of the teaching force ⇨ police force
7. STRONG INFLUENCE [countable] something or someone who is powerful and has a lot of influence on the way things happen
the driving force (behind something/somebody) (=the person or thing that makes something happen)
Betty Coward was the driving force behind the project.
a force for change/peace/democracy etc (=someone or something that makes change, peace etc more likely to happen)
Healthy competition is a force for innovation.
He’s a quick and decisive player – a force to be reckoned with (=a person, team, company etc that influences what happens).
The fall in prices was due to forces beyond their control. ⇨ market forces
8. POWERFUL EFFECT [uncountable] the powerful effect that something has on you:
Even after 30 years, the play has lost none of its force.
the force of his personality
9. join/combine forces (with somebody/something) to work together so that you can deal with a problem, be more powerful etc
join forces to do something
Local schools have joined forces with each other to share facilities.
10. in force
a. if a law, rule etc is in force, it already exists:
The trade embargo has been in force for a year.
b. in a large group, especially in order to protest about something
SYN in large numbers:
Villagers turned out in force to protest about the new road.
11. come into force/bring something into force if a new law, rule, change etc comes or is brought into force, it starts to exist:
Parking restrictions in the town centre came into force last month.
12. by/through/out of force of habit because you have always done a particular thing and it is difficult to change:
I get up at 6 o'clock every day out of force of habit.
13. by/through force of circumstance(s) British English if something happens by force of circumstance, events outside your control make it happen
14. WIND
a. force 8/9/10 etc a unit for measuring the strength of the wind
b. gale/hurricane force wind extremely strong wind that does a lot of damage
15. POLICE the force a word meaning the police force, used especially by police officers
16. the forces of good/evil etc literary people or things that increase the amount of good or bad in the world:
the battle against the forces of evil
⇨ labour force, tour de force, workforce
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + forces
▪the armed forces (=a country’s military organizations, including the army, navy, and air force) Israel refused to withdraw its armed forces from the area.
▪American/British/French etc forces Several battles took place involving American forces.
▪government forces (=soldiers fighting for the government) Government forces reportedly shot dead 300 unarmed civilians.
▪security forces (=who protect a country against people who are fighting the government) The government claimed that the security forces had destroyed the rebels’ headquarters.
▪rebel forces (=who are fighting against the government) The village was attacked by rebel forces.
▪military forces He served with the military forces during the war.
▪a defence force Should the European Union have its own defence force?
▪enemy forces Enemy forces now occupy substantial areas of the city.
▪a peacekeeping force A large UN peacekeeping force is being assembled.
▪special forces (=who are specially trained to fight against guerilla or terrorist groups) Special forces were employed to support the local army.
■ phrases
▪be in the forces Her husband is in the forces.
■ verbs
▪join the forces (=become a soldier, sailor etc) He was too young to join the forces when the war broke out.
▪withdraw your forces Expecting the Allies to attack again, he began to withdraw his forces eastward.
force2 S2 W1 verb [transitive]
force somebody to do something
Government troops have forced the rebels to surrender.
Due to the high cost of borrowing, many companies have been forced to close.
force yourself to do something
I had to force myself to get up this morning.
force somebody/something into (doing) something
women who are forced into arranged marriages
Bad health forced him into taking early retirement.
2. MAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING MOVE [always + adverb/preposition] to make someone or something move in a particular direction or into a different position, especially through or using great strength
SYN push:
Westerly gales forced the ship off course.
Firemen entering the building were forced back by flames.
She tried to keep the door shut but the man forced it open.
3. force your way through/into etc something (also force your way in/out/past etc) to push very hard in order to get somewhere:
The doctor forced his way through the crowd.
Demonstrators forced their way past.
4. MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN to make something happen or change, especially more quickly than planned or expected:
the unfortunate events that forced his resignation
We need to force the pace on alternative energy policies.
force prices/interest rates etc down/up
The effect will be to increase unemployment and force down wages.
5. force a door/lock/window to open a door etc using physical strength, often causing damage:
I forced the lock on the cupboard to see what was inside.
6. force the issue to do something that makes it necessary for someone to make decisions or take action, instead of waiting to see what happens:
Polly decided to force the issue by demanding an explanation.
7. force sb’s hand to make someone do something unwillingly or earlier than they had intended:
They’re reluctant to sell the house yet but the right offer could force their hand.
8. force a smile/laugh etc to make yourself smile, laugh etc even though you feel upset or annoyed
▪ 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.
force something ↔ back phrasal verb
to stop yourself from showing that you are upset or frightened, especially with difficulty:
Janet forced back her tears.
force something ↔ down phrasal verb
1. to make yourself eat or drink something, although you do not want it:
I forced down a piece of stale bread.
2. to make a plane land by threatening to attack it:
The hijacked plane was forced down by military jets.
force something on/upon somebody phrasal verb
to make someone do or accept something even though they do not want to:
It’s no good trying to force a diet on someone.
people who try to force their own views on you
force something ↔ out of somebody phrasal verb
to make someone tell you something by asking them many times, threatening them etc:
I wasn’t going to tell Matt but he forced it out of me.
| I |
noun Word Family: adjective: forceful, forcible, forced; noun: force, forcefulness; adverb: forcefully, forcibly; verb: force
Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: Latin fortis 'strong'
1. MILITARY Language: Old French
Origin: Latin fortis 'strong'
a. [countable usually plural] a group of people who have been trained to do military work for a government or other organization
government/military/defence etc forces
b. the forces British English the army, navy, and air force
in the forces
c. nuclear/conventional forces nuclear weapons or ordinary weapons:
2. MILITARY ACTION [uncountable] military action used as a way of achieving your aims:
3. VIOLENCE [uncountable] violent physical action used to get what you want:
by force
4. PHYSICAL POWER [uncountable] the amount of physical power with which something moves or hits another thing ⇨ strength
force of
with great/considerable/increasing etc force
5. NATURAL POWER [uncountable and countable] a natural power or event:
6. ORGANIZED GROUP [countable usually singular] a group of people who have been trained and organized to do a particular job:
7. STRONG INFLUENCE [countable] something or someone who is powerful and has a lot of influence on the way things happen
the driving force (behind something/somebody) (=the person or thing that makes something happen)
a force for change/peace/democracy etc (=someone or something that makes change, peace etc more likely to happen)
8. POWERFUL EFFECT [uncountable] the powerful effect that something has on you:
9. join/combine forces (with somebody/something) to work together so that you can deal with a problem, be more powerful etc
join forces to do something
10. in force
a. if a law, rule etc is in force, it already exists:
b. in a large group, especially in order to protest about something
SYN in large numbers:
11. come into force/bring something into force if a new law, rule, change etc comes or is brought into force, it starts to exist:
12. by/through/out of force of habit because you have always done a particular thing and it is difficult to change:
13. by/through force of circumstance(s) British English if something happens by force of circumstance, events outside your control make it happen
14. WIND
a. force 8/9/10 etc a unit for measuring the strength of the wind
b. gale/hurricane force wind extremely strong wind that does a lot of damage
15. POLICE the force a word meaning the police force, used especially by police officers
16. the forces of good/evil etc literary people or things that increase the amount of good or bad in the world:
⇨ labour force, tour de force, workforce
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| II |
verb [transitive] Word Family: adjective: forceful, forcible, forced; noun: force, forcefulness; adverb: forcefully, forcibly; verb: force
1. MAKE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING to make someone do something they do not want to do ⇨ persuadeforce somebody to do something
force yourself to do something
force somebody/something into (doing) something
2. MAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING MOVE [always + adverb/preposition] to make someone or something move in a particular direction or into a different position, especially through or using great strength
SYN push:
3. force your way through/into etc something (also force your way in/out/past etc) to push very hard in order to get somewhere:
4. MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN to make something happen or change, especially more quickly than planned or expected:
force prices/interest rates etc down/up
5. force a door/lock/window to open a door etc using physical strength, often causing damage:
6. force the issue to do something that makes it necessary for someone to make decisions or take action, instead of waiting to see what happens:
7. force sb’s hand to make someone do something unwillingly or earlier than they had intended:
8. force a smile/laugh etc to make yourself smile, laugh etc even though you feel upset or annoyed
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force something ↔ back phrasal verb
to stop yourself from showing that you are upset or frightened, especially with difficulty:
force something ↔ down phrasal verb
1. to make yourself eat or drink something, although you do not want it:
2. to make a plane land by threatening to attack it:
force something on/upon somebody phrasal verb
to make someone do or accept something even though they do not want to:
force something ↔ out of somebody phrasal verb
to make someone tell you something by asking them many times, threatening them etc:
especially
