force

plural forces

1. countableuncountableAbility to influence; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect.

   show of force

   3 more examples

   the force of an appeal, an argument, or a contract

   He was, in the full force of the words, a good man.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XIV, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

   After his actions were challenged by foreign governments and Parliament initially tried to put a stop to his action, Denman returned home and argued his case with enough force that, by 1848, the Royal Navy was handed active permission and encouragement to raze every last slave factory they could find to the ground, and full authority to stop any ship, of any flag, that was thought to be a slaver, with a guarantee with^([sic]) no censure from the government.

   2018 December 1, Drachinifel, 9:45 from the start, in Anti-Slavery Patrols - The West Africa Squadron, archived from the original on 29 Nov 2024

2. A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn).
   1. uncountablenatural sciencesThe generalized abstraction of this concept.

      Torque is the rotational version of force.

      1 more example

      Force is the result of fundamental interactions.

   2. countablenatural sciencesA particular form or type of force.

      fictitious forces

      2 more examples

      Most physicists deem there to be four fundamental forces: the weak force, the strong force, gravitation, and the electromagnetic force.

      As the force that attracts conglomerates of matter to one another, gravity has a limitless pull.

      1989 May, John Boslough, “Searching for the Secrets of Gravity”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 563

   3. capitalizedcountablehumorousoftenuncountableliteratureA metaphysical and ubiquitous power from the fictional Star Wars universe created by George Lucas. See usage note.First known use 1977

      Catrin: Are you gonna bring it me, or shall I use the Force?

      2010, Gary Owen, Love Steals Us from Loneliness, London: Bloomsbury Publishing, →DOI, →ISBN, page 14

      2 more examples

      The Europeans tried, my goodness how they tried. But on the day the US proved too strong and too inspired. They were, dammit, just better. And when Leonard's putt dropped they clearly had the force with them as well.

      1999 September 28, Mike Selvey, “Crenshaw vindicated by a chain reaction”, in The Guardian

      The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.

      2005, George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, spoken by Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), published 2005

   4. countablenatural sciencesAn instance of a physical force.

      Two forces acting upon the same point on an object will cancel out only if they have equal magnitude and opposite directions.

      1 more example

      A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever.

      2012 March 28, Henry Petroski, “Opening Doors”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, pages 112–3

   5. possiblyproscribeduncountablenatural sciencesForce understood as something of which there can be an amount.

      Heavier objects are those that are subject to more gravitational force.

3. countableAnything that is able to make a substantial change in a person or thing.
4. countableuncountableSomething or anything that has the power to produce a physical effect upon something else, such as causing it to move or change shape.
5. countableSomething that exerts influence.

   force of nature

   Synonyms: influence, factor, pressure

   1. countableuncountablewhen in reference to that which it affectsSomething that, over time, influences a system with which it interacts (with a connotation of underlyingness, subtlety, or indirectness).

      market forces

      2 more examples

      I believe that the main long-term force that guides a society's evolution is not the economy or the leaders, but the culture.

      Some skeptics have attributed changing temperatures to forces out of our control, such as axial procession.

      Synonyms: influence, factor, pressure

6. uncountablePower exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion.

   which now they hold by force, and not by right

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

   1. countableuncountablelawEither unlawful violence, as in a "forced entry", or lawful compulsion.
7. countableA group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group).

   Force Z

   4 more examples

   air force; police force

   Is Lucius general of the forces?

   1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

   "A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.[…]."

   1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   For Lothian and Borders Police, the early-morning raid had come at the end one of biggest investigations carried out by the force, which had originally presented a dossier of evidence on the murder of Jodi Jones to the Edinburgh procurator-fiscal, William Gallagher, on 25 November last year.

   2004 April 15, “Morning swoop in hunt for Jodi's killer”, in The Scotsman

   1. countableuncountableAny large, organized group involved in a military engagement.
   2. countablepluralsingularuncountableMilitary personnel, collectively, including any vehicles, ships, or aircraft. More broadly, the military or police altogether.

      Roman forces were

      2 more examples

      After only a week, Japanese forces had captured Singapore from the British.

      reinforcements grew the American force in the area to 9,000

   3. countablepluralsingularuncountableusuallywith definite articleSynonym of police force.

      Niall was on the force, too, a detective in major crimes.

      2012 February 1, Janice Kay Johnson, Between Love and Duty, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 77

      2 more examples

      Q. All the time that he was on the force? A. I cannot say that; but there were men on with me when I was on the force who were very good Republicans. Q. During all this time you have been on the police force?

      1880, [U.S.] House documents, page 64

      Some of those that work forces / Are the same that burn crosses

      1992, Rage Against the Machine (band), Killing in the Name

      Synonyms: police force

8. uncountablelawThe state of having legal weight, of being legally valid,.

   The law will come into force in January.

   Synonyms: effect

9. countableA magic trick in which the outcome is known to the magician beforehand, especially one involving the apparent free choice of a card by another person.
10. countableuncountablehuman sciencesAbility of an utterance or its element (word, form, prosody, ...) to effect a given meaning.

    When the aspectual force of the verbal categories weakens, the 'terminative', punctual or determinative value of the prefix gains in importance,...

    1962, J Gonda, The aspectual function of the R̥gvedic present and aorist, S̓-Gravenhage, Mouton, page 43

11. countableuncountableactuarial sciencebusinessThe annualized instantaneous rate of change at a particular timepoint.

    force of mortality

present singular third person forces · participle present forcing · participle past forced · past forced · first person past singular forced · archaic present second person singular forcest · past second person singular forced · archaic past second person singular forcedst · present singular third person forces · archaic present singular third person forceth · past singular third person forced · past plural forced · past subjunctive forced · participle present forcing · participle past forced

1. transitiveTo make someone or something do something, often regardless of their will.First known use 15ᵗʰc.

   The second problem is the economy, the shocking state of which has forced the decision to apply to the EU.

   2009 July 23, “All things to Althingi”, in The Economist

   3 more examples

   Captain Edward Carlisle[…]felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze,[…]; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.

   1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   Housebuilders had warned that the higher costs involved would have forced them to build fewer homes and priced many homebuyers out of the market.

   2011 March 23, Tim Webb, Fiona Harvey, The Guardian

   The hourly Southampton to London Victoria service via Horsham has been axed, as has the direct Littlehampton-Bognor Regis service, forcing passengers to change [trains] at Barnham.

   2024 March 6, “Network News: Southern revises Coastway service”, in RAIL, number 1004, page 12

   Synonyms: thrust

2. transitiveTo constrain by force; to overcome the limitations or resistance of.First known use 16ᵗʰc.

   Shall wee force the general law of nature, which in all living creatures under heaven is seene to tremble at paine?

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 40, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

3. transitiveTo drive (something) by force, to propel (generally + prepositional phrase or adverb).First known use 16ᵗʰc.

   to force the tyrant from his seat by war

   c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]

   3 more examples

   It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay / That scarce the victor forced the steel away.

   1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   Ethelbert […]ordered that none should be forced into religion.

   1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI)

   In a groundbreaking move, the Pentagon is compensating servicemen seriously hurt when an American tank convoy forced them off the road.

   2007 November 4, The Guardian

   Synonyms: thrust

4. transitiveTo cause to occur (despite inertia, resistance etc.); to produce through force.First known use 16ᵗʰc.

   The comedian's jokes weren't funny, but I forced a laugh now and then.

   1 more example

   Janet Tobacman of Woman Organized for Reproductive Choice (WORC) in Chicago and New Jewish Agenda stated, "R2N2 needs omre discussion and action around sexuality in general," forcing a concern that had little discussion throughout the conference.

   1982 December 4, Sharon Page, “R2N2 Conference: Revitalizing the Movement”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 20, page 3

5. transitiveTo forcibly open (a door, lock etc.).First known use 17ᵗʰc.

   I forgot my keys in and so we had to force (open) the door.

6. transitiveTo violate (a woman); to rape.First known use 14ᵗʰc.

   a young woman not farre from mee had headlong cast her selfe out of a high window, with intent to kill herselfe, only to avoid the ravishment of a rascally-base souldier that lay in her house, who offered to force her[…].

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 1, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   For yf ye were suche fyfty as ye be / ye were not able to make resystence ageynst this deuyl / here lyeth a duchesse deede the whiche was the fayrest of alle the world wyf to syre Howel / duc of Bretayne / he hath murthred her in forcynge her / and has slytte her vnto the nauyl

   1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter V, in Le Morte Darthur, book V

   Synonyms: abuse, defile, outrage, abuse, constuprate, defile, defoul, dishonour

7. intransitiveobsoletereflexiveTo exert oneself, to do one's utmost.First known use 14ᵗʰc.

   And I pray you for my sake to force yourselff there, that men may speke you worshyp.

   1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xxi”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book XVIII, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC

8. To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress.
9. transitiveball gamesTo 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.

10. To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit that he/she does not hold.
11. archaicTo put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce.

    VVhat can the Church force more?

    1612–1613 (date written), John Webster, The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy. […], London: […] Nicholas Okes, for Iohn Waterson, […], published 1623, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii

12. archaicTo provide with forces; to reinforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison.

    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 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v], page 150, column 1, lines 5–7

13. obsoleteTo allow the force of; to value; to care for.

    For me, I force not argument a straw.

    1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC

14. To grow (rhubarb) in the dark, causing it to grow early.

plural forces

1. Northern EnglandcountableA waterfall or cascade.

   to see the falls or force of the river Kent

   1778, Thomas West, A Guide to the Lakes in Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire

present singular third person forces · participle present forcing · participle past forced · past forced

1. To stuff; to lard; to farce.

   Wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit.

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

1. Northern EnglandFalls. used in place names.

plural Forces · alternative Vorce

1. A surname.