force

1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯrs 

1

a(1)

: strength or energy exerted or brought to bear : cause of motion or change : active power

the forces of nature

the motivating force in her life

(2)

Force

—used with a number to indicate the strength of the wind according to the Beaufort scale

a Force 10 hurricane

b

: moral or mental strength

I was impressed by the force of his character.

c

: capacity to persuade or convince

the force of the argument

2

a

: military strength

b(1)

: a body (as of troops or ships) assigned to a military purpose

a force of 20,000 soldiers

(2)

forces plural : the whole military strength (as of a nation)

c

: a body of persons or things available for a particular end

a labor force

the missile force

d

: an individual or group having the power of effective action

join forces to prevent violence

The organization was a force for good.

He has become a force to be reckoned with [= a person with power] in politics.

e

often Force : police force

—usually used with the

After his military service, he joined the force.

3

a

: physical violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing

used brute force to open the door

claimed the officer used excessive force in making the arrest

The thief took her purse by force.

b

: nonphysical power that compels or constrains

a rule that does not have the force of law

succeeded through sheer force of will. [=determination to succeed]

4

a

: an agency or influence that if applied to a free body results chiefly in an acceleration of the body and sometimes in elastic deformation and other effects

b

: any of the natural influences (such as electromagnetism (see electromagnetism sense 2a), gravity, the strong force, and the weak force) that exist especially between particles and determine the structure of the universe

5

: the quality of conveying impressions intensely in writing or speech

stated the objectives with force

6

baseball : force-out

forceless

ˈfȯrs-ləs 

adjective

force

2 of 2

verb

forced; forcing

transitive verb

1

: to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means

A player was forced out of bounds.

They forced the CEO to resign.

I forced myself to finish.

2

: to make or cause especially through natural or logical necessity

I was forced to admit my error.

The last minute goal forced overtime.

Flooding forced many to leave their homes.

3

a

: to press, drive, pass, or effect against resistance or inertia

force your way through

b

: to impose or thrust urgently, importunately, or inexorably

had the decision forced on them

The impending deadline may force compromises.

4

: to do violence to

especially : rape

5

: to achieve or win by strength in struggle or violence: such as

a

: to win one's way into

force a castle

forced the mountain passes

b

: to break open or through

force a lock

6

a

: to raise or accelerate to the utmost

forcing the pace

b

: to produce only with unnatural or unwilling effort

forced a smile

c

: to wrench, strain, or use (language) with marked unnaturalness and lack of ease

7

a

: to hasten the rate of progress or growth of

b

: to bring (plants) to maturity out of the normal season

forcing lilies for Easter

8

: to induce (a particular bid or play by another player) in a card game by some conventional act, play, bid, or response

9

a

: to cause (a runner in baseball) to be put out on a force-out

b

: to cause (a run) to be scored in baseball by giving a base on balls when the bases are full

forcer noun

Phrases

in force

1

: in great numbers

picnickers were out in force

2

: valid, operative

the ban remains in force

force one's hand

: to cause one to act precipitously : force one to reveal one's purpose or intention

Synonyms of force

Noun

• manpower
• workforce
• staff
• personnel
• pool

Verb

• compel
• coerce
• obligate
• oblige

Choose the Right Synonym for force

Noun

power, force, energy, strength, might mean the ability to exert effort.

power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon.

the awesome power of flowing water

force implies the actual effective exercise of power.

used enough force to push the door open

energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work.

a worker with boundless energy

strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack.

use weight training to build your strength

might implies great or overwhelming power or strength.

the belief that might makes right

Verb

force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige mean to make someone or something yield.

force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

forced to flee for their lives

compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

Examples of force in a Sentence

Noun

The front of the car took the full force of the collision.

instruments used to measure the force of the wind

The police were accused of using excessive force when they made the arrest.

We discourage the use of force.

He used brute force to open the door.

I was impressed by the force of her personality.

Verb

They forced us to work long hours without pay.

The flooding forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes.

After seeing the evidence, I was forced to admit my error.

I am forced to conclude that more funding will be necessary.

The pilot was forced to land when one of the plane's engines caught fire.

The scandal forced his resignation.

Lack of time may eventually force a compromise.

They are trying to force a vote on this issue.

The runner was forced out of bounds.

Their car was forced off the road.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While many members of the British military have risked their lives and died in battle, there have also been lives lost at the hands of those same forces. —Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025

Analysts attribute rising electric bills to a combination of forces. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025

Verb

The performances of Arsenal in 2003-04 (90 points, no defeats) and Chelsea in 2004-05 (95 points, one defeat) and 2005-06 (91 points, five defeats) forced a serious reappraisal. —Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025

The Assassin followed retired professional killer Julie (Keeley Hawes) and her estranged son Edward (Highmore) as they are forced to work together in a fight for survival on a remote Greek island. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *fortia, from Latin fortis strong

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing force

• a force to be reckoned with
• a force to reckon with
• air force
• a spent force
• atomic force microscope
• by force of arms
• by/from force of habit
• centrifugal force
• centripetal force
• chief master sergeant of the air force
• coercive force
• Coriolis force
• counter-force
• electromotive force
• field of force
• force-feed
• force field
• force majeure
• force of circumstance(s)
• force of habit
• force of nature
• force of will
• force oneself
• force one's hand
• force one's way
• force on/upon
• force-out
• force play
• force pump
• force quit
• force/ram/shove (something) down someone's throat
• force someone's hand
• force (something) down
• force the issue
• force to be reckoned with
• general of the air force
• g-force
• into force
• labor force
• life force
• line of force
• magnetomotive force
• moving force/spirit
• police force
• strike force
• strong force
• task force
• third force
• tour de force
• weak force

Rhymes for force

• bourse
• coarse
• course
• gorse
• hoarse
• horse
• norse
• source
• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce

Kids Definition

force

1 of 2 noun

ˈfō(ə)rs 

ˈfȯ(ə)rs

1

a

: strength or energy put forth : active power

forces of nature

b

: capacity to persuade or convince

the force of this argument

c

: the state of existing and being enforced : effect

that law is still in force

2

: a group of persons trained and available for action

a police force

the nation's labor force

3

: violence or power used on a person or thing

open a door by force

4

: an influence (as a push or pull) that tends to produce a change in the speed or direction of motion of something

the force of gravity

forceless

-ləs 

adjective

force

2 of 2 verb

forced; forcing

1

: to make (as a person) do something

forced them to work

2

a

: to get or make by using force

forced their way into the room

b

: to break open or through

force a lock

3

: to produce with effort

forced a weak smile

4

: to speed up the development of

force flowers

forcer noun

Medical Definition

force

1 of 2 noun

ˈfō(ə)rs, ˈfȯ(ə)rs 

: an agency or influence that if applied to a free body results chiefly in an acceleration of the body and sometimes in elastic deformation and other effects

forcé

2 of 2

see accouchement forcé

Legal Definition

force

1 of 2 noun

1

: a cause of motion, activity, or change

— intervening force

: a force that acts after another's negligent act or omission has occurred and that causes injury to another : intervening cause at cause

— irresistible force

: an unforeseeable event especially that prevents performance of an obligation under a contract : force majeure

2

: a body of persons available for a particular end

the labor force

specifically : police force

—usually used with the

3

: violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing

— constructive force

: the use of threats or intimidation for the purpose of gaining control over or preventing resistance from another

— deadly force

: force that is intended to cause or that carries a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury compare nondeadly force in this entry

Note: As a general rule, deadly force may be used without incurring criminal or tort liability when one reasonably believes that one's life or safety is in danger. In some cases, a person's unreasonable belief in the need for deadly force has been used to justify reducing a charge of murder to voluntary manslaughter. Additionally, a police officer is generally justified in using deadly force to prevent the escape of a suspect who threatens the officer or who the officer has probable cause to believe has committed a violent crime.

— lawful force

: force that is considered justified under the law and does not create criminal or tort liability compare unlawful force in this entry

— moderate force \ ˈmä-​də-​rət-​ \

: nondeadly force in this entry

— nondeadly force

: force that is intended to cause minor bodily injury

also : a threat (as by the brandishing of a gun) to use deadly force

called also moderate force

compare deadly force in this entry

— reasonable force

: Lawful force that is reasonably necessary to accomplish a particular end (as preventing theft of one's property)

— unlawful force

: force that is not justified under the law and therefore is considered a tort or crime or both compare lawful force in this entry

force

2 of 2 transitive verb

forced; forcing

1

a

: to compel by physical means often against resistance

forced him into the car

b

: to break open or through

forced the door

see also forcible entry

2

: to impose or require by law see also elective share, forced heir at heir, forced sale at sale