force

SayFORS/foɹs/UK/fɔːs/

Verbforces, forcing, forced

Noun pluralforces

27 meanings of force

Practice

1
compelverbtransitive
To make someone do something they do not want to do.
Like pushing someone through a door when they want to stay.
You can't force a child to eat if they refuse.
The storm forced them to cancel the trip.
UsageSay force someone to go, with to.
Similarcompel, oblige, coerce, drive, pressure
Note
2
militarynouncountable or uncountable
All the soldiers, ships, and equipment of a military, taken together.
Like all the players, gear, and coaches of a team together.
The nation committed its entire force to the campaign.
Her brother joined the armed forces after high school.
UsageSay join the armed forces.
Similararmy, military, troops, power
Note
3
major influencenouncountable
Something that has a strong effect on people or on how things happen.
Like a magnet that quietly pulls things toward it.
Social media is a strong force in shaping opinions.
Her mentor was a steady force in her career.
Usagea driving force is what makes something happen.
Similarinfluence, power
4
organized unitnouncountable
A group of people organized to do a job together, such as soldiers, guards, or workers.
Like a team put together to do one big job.
A peacekeeping force was sent to the border.
A force of park rangers was sent to stop the hunters.
UsageSay police force or air force.
Similarunit, team, squad, body, detachment
Note
5
violencenoununcountable
Power used against someone's wishes, often with violence.
Like grabbing a toy from a child instead of asking.
The soldiers used force to clear the square.
They took the building by force.
UsageSay by force or use force.
Similarcoercion, violence, compulsion, duress
Oppositepersuasion
Note
6
nouncountable or uncountable
Strength or energy of body or mind that lets someone influence things.
Like the energy a strong runner has at the start of a race.
She argued with great force and changed everyone's mind.
The force of her personality made everyone listen.
UsageSay with great force.
Similarpower, strength, vigor, energy, intensity
Oppositeweakness
Note
7
make happenverbtransitive
To make something happen even when it is hard to bring about.
Like squeezing one more drop out of an empty tube.
The coach tried to force a win in the final minutes.
They forced a change in the rules after the protest.
Usageforce a smile means smile when you do not feel happy.
Similarcreate, engineer, secure, achieve
Note
8
nouncountable or uncountablewith the
The police of an area, thought of as one organized group.
She joined the force right after finishing college.
Officers across the force received new training this year.
UsageSay join the force or on the force.
Similarpolice, department, constabulary
Note
9
verbtransitive
To push something somewhere using power or strength.
Like shoving a big box through a small doorway.
He forced the wedge into the crack in the log.
You have to force the cork down into the bottle.
UsageSay force something into a hole.
Similarthrust
Note
10
physical impactnouncountable or uncountable
The physical strength of a push, pull, or hit, such as the force of a crash.
Like the push you give a swing to make it move.
The force of the falling rock smashed the old shed.
The force of the flood water bent the metal fence.
UsageSay the force of the wave.
11
push (physics)nouncountable or uncountable
In science, a push or pull, like gravity or magnetism, that can make something move or change.
Like an arrow that shows both how hard something is pushed and which way.
The force on the cart points to the left, so the cart speeds up in that direction.
Two equal forces pulling in opposite directions cancel each other out.
Note
12
legal effectnoununcountable
The state of a rule or law being officially active and binding.
Like a switch being turned on so a rule starts working.
The new law comes into force next month.
That old rule is no longer in force.
UsageA law comes into force when it starts to apply.
Similareffect, validity, operation
Note

Less common meanings

13
Star Warsnounhumorouscountable or uncountable
In Star Wars, a mysterious energy that flows through all living things and gives Jedi their powers.
Like a magic energy that flows through everything in the story.
Luke learned to trust the Force during his training with Yoda.
A Jedi draws strength from the Force in every battle.
UsageWrite the Force.
Note
14
verbtransitive
To break through or open something, like a door or a line of soldiers, using strength.
Like pushing past someone who is blocking the doorway.
The thief forced the kitchen window and climbed inside.
The firefighters had to force the door to reach the people inside.
UsageYou can say force the door or force it open.
Similarbreach
15
rapeverbarchaictransitive
To rape a person, or make someone have sex against their will.
Similarrape, violate, ravish
16
baseball outverbtransitive
In baseball, to get a runner out by touching the next base before the runner reaches it, when the runner must advance.
The shortstop forced the runner at second base.
With the bases loaded, they can force the runner at any base.
Note
17
speech effectnouncountable or uncountable
The power of a word or sentence to carry a certain meaning or effect.
Like how the word 'stop' hits harder than the word 'wait'.
The force of his words made the warning impossible to ignore.
A single rude word can carry surprising force.
Similarmeaning, import, effect
Note
18
make bindingverbarchaic
To make a rule or law take effect and be obeyed.
VVhat can the Church force more?
1612, John Webster, The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy.Here, force means put into effect or make binding, as with a rule.
Note
19
verbtransitive
To make a plant grow or flower earlier than its normal season by changing its warmth, light or other conditions.
You can force rhubarb by putting an old bucket over the plant.
This rhubarb was forced in a dark shed, so we got it in February.
Note
20
noun
A magic trick where the magician secretly controls a choice that looks free, like picking a card.
21
noun
In insurance maths, how fast something like deaths or interest is changing at one moment, compared with the amount there.
22
noundialectalNorthern England
A waterfall, where a river drops over rocks.
23
verbobsolete
To try as hard as you can.
And I pray you for my sake to force yourselff there, that men may speke you worshyp.
1470, Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xxi”
24
verb
In card games, to lead a suit another player lacks so they must use a trump.
25
verbarchaic
To send soldiers to a place to make it stronger.
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.
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”
26
verbobsolete
To care about something or think it matters.
For me, I force not argument a straw.
1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto)
27
verb
To put stuffing inside meat.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of force apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2–6, 8, 10–13, 17

It comes from Latin fortis, meaning "strong," and reached English through Old French force.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Force ultimately derives from Latin fortis, meaning "strong". en.wiktionary.org
Force reached English through Old French force. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 7, 9, 14–16, 18–19

It comes from Old French forcier, based on the Latin word fortia.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The verb force comes from Old French forcier. en.wiktionary.org
Old French forcier is ultimately based on Latin fortia. en.wiktionary.org