force
 force (fôrs, fōrs)n.
1. The capacity to do work or cause physical change; energy, strength, or active power:
the force of an explosion.
2.
a. Power made operative against resistance; exertion:
use force in driving a nail.
b. The use of physical power or violence to compel or restrain:
a confession obtained by force.
3.
a. Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech.
b. Moral strength.
c. A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy:
the force of logical argumentation.
d. One that possesses such capacity:
the forces of evil.
4.
a. A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose:
a large labor force.
b. A person or group capable of influential action:
a retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
5.
a. Military strength.
b. The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
c. 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.tr.v. 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.
a. To gain by the use of force or coercion:
force a confession.
b. To move or effect against resistance or inertia:
forced my foot into the shoe.
c. To inflict or impose relentlessly:
He forced his ideas upon the group.
3.
a. To put undue strain on:
She forced her voice despite being hoarse.
b. To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum.
c. To produce with effort and against one's will:
force a laugh in spite of pain.
d. To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness.
4.
a. To move, open, or clear by force:
forced our way through the crowd.
b. 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.
a. To put (a runner) out on a force play.
b. 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a rule that is no longer in force. [Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin fortia, from neuter pl. of Latin fortis, strong. See bhergh-2 in Indo-European Roots.] forceʹa·ble adj.forcʹer n.
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
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