Definition of force

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force    (fôrs, frs) KEY 

NOUN:

1. The capacity to do work or cause physical change; energy, strength, or active power: the force of an explosion.
2. 1. Power made operative against resistance; exertion: use force in driving a nail.
   2. The use of physical power or violence to compel or restrain: a confession obtained by force.
3. 1. Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech.
   2. Moral strength.
   3. A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy: the force of logical argumentation.
   4. One that possesses such capacity: the forces of evil.
4. 1. A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force.
   2. A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
5. 1. Military strength.
   2. The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
   3. A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
6. Law Legal validity.
7. Physics A vector quantity that tends to produce an acceleration of a body in the direction of its application.
8. Baseball A force play.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
forced, forc·ing, forc·es

1. To compel through pressure or necessity: I forced myself to practice daily. He was forced to take a second job.
2. 1. To gain by the use of force or coercion: force a confession.
   2. To move or effect against resistance or inertia: forced my foot into the shoe.
   3. To inflict or impose relentlessly: He forced his ideas upon the group.
3. 1. To put undue strain on: She forced her voice despite being hoarse.
   2. To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum.
   3. To produce with effort and against one's will: force a laugh in spite of pain.
   4. To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness.
4. 1. To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd.
   2. To break down or open by force: force a lock.
5. To rape.
6. Botany To cause to grow or mature by artificially accelerating normal processes.
7. Baseball
   1. To put (a runner) out on a force play.
   2. To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
8. Games To cause an opponent to play (a particular card).

IDIOMS:
force (someone's) hand

To force to act or speak prematurely or unwillingly.

in force

1. In full strength; in large numbers: Demonstrators were out in force.
2. In effect; operative: a rule that is no longer in force.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin fortia, from neuter pl. of Latin fortis, strong; see bhergh-² in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
forcea·ble(Adjective), forcer(Noun)

SYNONYMS:
force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige, obligate

These verbs mean to cause a person or thing to follow a prescribed or dictated course. Force, the most general, usually implies the exertion of physical power or the operation of circumstances that permit no options: Tear gas forced the fugitives out of their hiding place. Compel applies especially to an act dictated by one in authority: Say nothing unless you're compelled to. Coerce invariably implies the use of strength or harsh measures in securing compliance: "The man of genius rules . . . by persuading an efficient minority to coerce an indifferent and self-indulgent majority" (James Fitzjames Stephen). Constrain suggests that one is bound to a course of action by physical or moral means or by the operation of compelling circumstances: "I will never be by violence constrained to do anything" (Elizabeth I). Oblige implies the operation of authority, necessity, or moral or ethical considerations: "Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do" (Mark Twain). Obligate applies when compliance is enforced by a legal contract or by the dictates of one's conscience or sense of propriety: I am obligated to repay the loan. See also Synonyms at strength.