force
/foɹs/ verb B2- To make someone or something do something, often regardless of their will.
- To constrain by force; to overcome the limitations or resistance of.
- To drive (something) by force, to propel (generally + prepositional phrase or adverb).
- To cause to occur (despite inertia, resistance etc.); to produce through force. · The comedian's jokes weren't funny, but I forced a laugh now and then.
- To forcibly open (a door, lock etc.). · I forgot my keys in and so we had to force (open) the door.
- To violate (a woman); to rape.
- To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress.
- To create an out by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground. · Jones forced the runner at second by stepping on the bag.
Plural force · He/she/it forces · Past forced · Past participle forced · -ing form forcing
Verb forms
- Base form
- force
- He/she/it
- forces
- Past
- forced
- Past participle
- forced
- -ing form
- forcing
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction of having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself.
Bennet was forced to submit to a separation, which, as her husband by no means entered into her scheme of their all going to Newcastle, was likely to continue at least a twelvemonth.
The Tin Woodman lay down on his bed from force of habit, for he remembered when he was made of flesh; but not being able to sleep, he passed the night moving his joints up and down to make sure they kept in good working order.
But my feet would not touch the ground, and I was forced to stay on that pole.
Other matches
Learn force in real texts
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