0 physical, especially violent, strength, or power:
2 a group of people organized and trained, especially for a particular purpose:
3 (of laws, rules, or systems) existing and being used:
New driving regulations are going to come into force this year.
4 to make something happen or make someone do something difficult, unpleasant, or unusual, especially by threatening or not offering the possibility of choice:
[ + to infinitive ] I really have to force myself to be nice to him.
[ + to infinitive ] You can't force her to make a decision.
Hospitals are being forced to close departments because of lack of money.
You could tell he was having to force back the tears (= stop himself from crying).
I didn't actually want any more dessert, but Julia forced it on me (= made me accept it).
I couldn't stay at their flat - I'd feel as if I was forcing myself on them (= making them allow me to stay).
You never tell me how you're feeling - I have to force it out of you (= make you tell me)!
forced strawberries
If the management wouldn't listen to their demands, they would have to force the issue by striking.
5 to use physical strength or effort to make something move or open:
7 strong influence and energy, or a person with strong influence and energy:
8 power to make someone do something, or to make something happen, esp. without offering the possibility of choice:
11 to use physical strength or effort to make something move or open:
12 to make someone do something, or make something happen, esp. by threatening or not offering the possibility of choice:
[ + to infinitive ] Anderson was forced to leave the game with a bruised knee.
I didn’t actually want any more dessert, but Julia forced it on me.
If callers have information about the crime and would like to give their names that is fine, but we’re not going to force the issue (= make them give their names).
13 a person or thing with a lot of influence, power, or energy:
a dominant/major/powerful force The takeover will create a powerful new force in Britain's food retail industry.
commercial/competitive/economic forces Potent commercial forces are bringing the hydrogen economy along faster than anyone thought possible.
a force for change/good The movement of work to developing economies must be a force for good.
14 a group of people organized and trained for a particular purpose:
16 if laws, rules, or systems are in force, they are being used:
17 a powerful person or organization with a lot of influence:
18 to work with someone in order to achieve something you both want:
19 when laws, rules, or systems come into force, they start being used:
20 to make a person or an organization do something that they do not want to do:
force sb/sth to do sth The arrival of the new supermarket has forced local businesses to raise their wages to compete.
force sb/sth into sth Heavy law school debt frequently forces graduates into high-paying jobs at private firms, where intense deadlines and grinding hours are routine.
force sb/sth into doing sth Customers are being forced into banking by phone or over the internet.
21 to make something happen, especially something that people do not want to happen:
22 to make someone do something they do not want to do or do something sooner than they had intended:
The acceleration of a body equals the force exerted on it divided by its mass.
Ambition can sometimes be a force for good.
Since the government limited their powers, the unions are no longer a force to be reckoned with.
In Britain and the USA in the 1970s, the underground was a powerful subversive force.
中文繁体
力量, 力,力量, 力氣…
More中文简体
力量, 力,力量, 力气…
MoreEspañol
fuerza, forzar, mover a la fuerza…
MorePortuguês
força, corpo, forçar…
More日本語
力, 強さ, 部隊…
MoreTürk dili
güç, zorlama, kuvvet…
MoreFrançais
force, violence [feminine], force [feminine]…
MoreCatalan
força, forçar, moure a la força…
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