Force | Mean of force in English Dictionary

/ˈfoɚs/

• Noun
• physical strength, power, or effect
1. The front of the car took the full force of the collision.
2. instruments used to measure the force of the wind
• power or violence used on a person or thing
1. The police were accused of using excessive force when they made the arrest.
2. We discourage the use of force.
3. a show of force
4. He used brute force to open the door.
5. He took the purse from her by force. [=he used physical power to take her purse]
6. He feels that this conflict can only be resolved by force of arms. [=by using weapons; by military action]
• strength or power that is not physical
1. I was impressed by the force of her personality.
2. lending force to his arguments [=making his arguments more effective/persuasive]
3. These regulations do not have the force of law. [=they do not have the power that laws have]
4. She succeeded by/through sheer force of will. [=because she was so determined to succeed]
5. Through/By force of circumstance(s) [=because of conditions that cannot be controlled], the company has had to lay off several hundred workers.
6. Even after he retired, he still woke up early every day by/from force of habit. [=he woke up early every day because he was in the habit of doing so]

• a natural power or effect that is able to change the speed or direction of something
1. the force of gravity
2. gravitational/electromagnetic forces
• something (such as rain or wind) that occurs in nature and that can be very powerful
1. The cliff was gradually eroded by the forces of nature.
2. natural forces
3. She gets people to do whatever she wants: she's a force of nature. [=she's a very powerful person who cannot be easily controlled]
• a group of soldiers trained to fight in a war
1. a force of 20,000 soldiers
2. He belonged to an elite fighting force.
3. The enemy forces had us surrounded.
4. ground forces
5. allied/rebel forces
• a group of people who do a particular job or are available for a particular purpose
1. our country's labor/work force
2. The company has a very large sales force.
3. security forces
• a person or group that has the power to do something or make something happen
1. The organization has been a strong force for good. [=has done a lot of good things]
2. He has been the driving/motivating force behind these changes. [=he has been the person who has caused these changes to occur]
3. He has become a force to be reckoned with [=a person who has power and influence] in politics.
• in large numbers
1. Picnickers were out in force today. [=there were many picnickers out today]
• actually working or operating
1. The ban remains in force. [=in effect]
2. The resolution remains in full force.
• into the condition of actually working or operating
1. The law came/went into force [=into effect] last year.
2. The regulations have not yet been put/brought into force.
• to begin working together in order to achieve something
1. We must all join forces to prevent violence.
2. The company has joined forces with local environmental groups.
• Verb
• to make (someone) do something that he or she does not want to do
1. They forced us to work long hours without pay.
2. He was forced to resign from office. = He was forced out of office.
3. I really have to force myself [=to make a great effort] to get up and go to work these days.
• to make it necessary for (someone) to do something
1. The flooding forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes.
2. After seeing the evidence, I was forced to admit my error.
3. I am forced to conclude that more funding will be necessary.
4. The pilot was forced to land when one of the plane's engines caught fire.
• to make (something) necessary
1. The scandal forced his resignation.
2. Lack of time may eventually force a compromise.
• to cause the occurrence of (something that other people do not want to happen)
1. They are trying to force a vote on this issue.
• to move (someone or something) by physical effort
1. The runner was forced out of bounds.
2. Their car was forced off the road.
3. After hours of fighting, they were able to force back the enemy.
4. The pressure forces the water to the surface.
5. A pump forces air into the chamber.
6. The medicine tasted awful, but I managed to force it down. [=to swallow it by making an effort]
7. If the key doesn't fit the lock, don't force it. [=don't use too much physical strength to make the key go into the lock]
• to cause (something) to open by using physical effort or violence
1. They forced (open) the door.
2. It was clear that the door/lock had been forced.
• to produce (something, such as a smile) by making an effort
1. She forced a smile.
• to cause (a runner) to be put out by means of a force-out
1. He was forced (out) at second base.
• to cause (someone or something that is not wanted) to be accepted by (someone)
1. They resent having these decisions forced on them.
2. I don't like the way he keeps forcing himself on us. [=the way he keeps coming to be with us when we do not want to be with him]
• to make it necessary for someone to do something
1. She'd intended to postpone her decision, but events forced her hand.
• to move ahead by pushing and making people move out of your way
1. They forced their way into the room.
2. He forced his way through the crowd.