The capacity to do work or cause physical change; energy, strength, or active power: the force of an explosion.
Power made operative against resistance; exertion: use force in driving a nail.
The use of physical power or violence to compel or restrain: a confession obtained by force.
Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech.
Moral strength.
A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy: the force of logical argumentation.
One that possesses such capacity: the forces of evil.
A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force.
A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
Military strength.
The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech.
Moral strength.
A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy: the force of logical argumentation.
One that possesses such capacity: the forces of evil.
A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force.
A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
Military strength.
The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force.
A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
Military strength.
The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
Military strength.
The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
Law Legal validity.
Physics A vector quantity that tends to produce an acceleration of a body in the direction of its application.
Baseball A force play.
tr.v.
forced, forc·ing, forc·es
To compel through pressure or necessity: I forced myself to practice daily. He was forced to take a second job.
To gain by the use of force or coercion: force a confession.
To move or effect against resistance or inertia: forced my foot into the shoe.
To inflict or impose relentlessly: He forced his ideas upon the group.
To put undue strain on: She forced her voice despite being hoarse.
To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum.
To produce with effort and against one's will: force a laugh in spite of pain.
To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness.
To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd.
To break down or open by force: force a lock.
To put (a runner) out on a force play.
To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
To put undue strain on: She forced her voice despite being hoarse.
To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum.
To produce with effort and against one's will: force a laugh in spite of pain.
To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness.
To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd.
To break down or open by force: force a lock.
To put (a runner) out on a force play.
To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd.
To break down or open by force: force a lock.
To put (a runner) out on a force play.
To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
To rape.
Botany To cause to grow or mature by artificially accelerating normal processes.
Baseball
To put (a runner) out on a force play.
To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
Games To cause an opponent to play (a particular card).
[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin fortia, from neuter pl. of Latin fortis, strong; see bhergh-2 in Indo-European roots.] force'a·ble adj., forc'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to cause a person or thing to follow a prescribed or dictated course. Force, the most general, usually implies the exertion of physical power or the operation of circumstances that permit no options: Tear gas forced the fugitives out of their hiding place. Compel applies especially to an act dictated by one in authority: Say nothing unless you're compelled to. Coerce invariably implies the use of strength or harsh measures in securing compliance: "The man of genius rules . . . by persuading an efficient minority to coerce an indifferent and self-indulgent majority" (James Fitzjames Stephen). Constrain suggests that one is bound to a course of action by physical or moral means or by the operation of compelling circumstances: "I will never be by violence constrained to do anything" (Elizabeth I). Oblige implies the operation of authority, necessity, or moral or ethical considerations: "Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do" (Mark Twain). Obligate applies when compliance is enforced by a legal contract or by the dictates of one's conscience or sense of propriety: I am obligated to repay the loan. See Also Synonyms at strength.
(fôrs, fōrs) 