English Dictionary

Definition of “force”

Browse the English dictionary (A-Z)

1force1 (fɔːsPronunciation for force1) 

Definitions

noun

  1. strength or energy; might; power  ⇒ the force of the blow a gale of great force 
  2. exertion or the use of exertion against a person or thing that resists; coercion
  3. physics 
    1. a dynamic influence that changes a body from a state of rest to one of motion or changes its rate of motion. The magnitude of the force is equal to the product of the mass of the body and its acceleration
    2. a static influence that produces an elastic strain in a body or system or bears weight F
  4. physics any operating influence that produces or tends to produce a change in a physical quantity  ⇒ electromotive force coercive force 
    1. intellectual, social, political, or moral influence or strength  ⇒ the force of his argument the forces of evil 
    2. a person or thing with such influence  ⇒ he was a force in the land 
  6. vehemence or intensity  ⇒ he spoke with great force 
  7. a group of persons organized for military or police functions  ⇒ armed forces 
  8. See the force
  9. a group of persons organized for particular duties or tasks  ⇒ a workforce 
  10. criminal law violence unlawfully committed or threatened
  11. philosophy logic that which an expression is normally used to achieve See speech act , illocution , perlocution
  12. See in force
  13. See join forces

verb (tr)

  1. to compel or cause (a person, group, etc) to do something through effort, superior strength, etc; coerce
  2. to acquire, secure, or produce through effort, superior strength, etc  ⇒ to force a confession 
  3. to propel or drive despite resistance  ⇒ to force a nail into wood 
  4. to break down or open (a lock, safe, door, etc)
  5. to impose or inflict  ⇒ he forced his views on them 
  6. to cause (plants or farm animals) to grow or fatten artificially at an increased rate
  7. to strain or exert to the utmost  ⇒ to force the voice 
  8. to rape; ravish
  9. cards 
    1. to compel (a player) to trump in order to take a trick
    2. to compel a player by the lead of a particular suit to play (a certain card)
    3. (in bridge) to induce (a bid) from one's partner by bidding in a certain way
  10. See force a smile
  11. See force down
  12. See force the pace

Alternative Forms

ˈforceable adjective ˈforceless adjective ˈforcer noun ˈforcingly adverb

Word Origin

C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin fortia  (unattested), from Latin fortis strong

2force2 (fɔːsPronunciation for force2) 

Definitions

noun

  1. (in northern England) a waterfall

Word Origin

C17: from Old Norse fors

Quotations

  • "Force without reason falls of its own weight" Horace
  • "There is no real force without justice" Napoleon
  • "Where force is necessary, there it must be applied boldly, decisively and completely. But one must know the limitations of force; one must know when to blend force with a manoeuvre, a blow with an agreement" Leon Trotsky
  • "Who overcomesBy force, hath overcome but half his foe" John Milton
  • "Force is as pitiless to the man who possesses it, or thinks he does, as it is to its victims; the second it crushes, the first it intoxicates. The truth is, nobody really possesses it" Simone Weil

Translations

  • British English: force Pronunciation for force Force is power or strength.They tried to seize power by force.fɔːs NOUN They tried to seize power by force.
  • Spanish: fuerza Pronunciation for fuerza nf
  • French: force Pronunciation for force nf
  • German: Kraft Pronunciation for Kraft nf
  • Chinese: 力量Pronunciation for 力量 n
  • Arabic: قُوَّةPronunciation for قُوَّة n
  • Portuguese: forçaPronunciation for força nf
  • Russian: силаPronunciation for сила nf
  • Croatian: silaPronunciation for sila nf
  • Czech: sílaPronunciation for síla nf
  • Danish: styrkePronunciation for styrke nutr
  • Dutch: machtPronunciation for macht n
  • Finnish: voimaPronunciation for voima v
  • Greek: ισχύςPronunciation for ισχύς nf
  • Italian: forzaPronunciation for forza nf
  • Japanese: 力Pronunciation for 力 n
  • Korean: 힘Pronunciation for 힘 n
  • Norwegian: styrkePronunciation for styrke nm
  • Polish: siłaPronunciation for siła nf
  • Brazilian Portuguese: forçaPronunciation for força nf
  • European Spanish: fuerza Pronunciation for fuerza nf
  • Swedish: styrkaPronunciation for styrka nutr
  • Thai: กำลังPronunciation for กำลัง n
  • Turkish: güçPronunciation for güç n
  • Vietnamese: lựcPronunciation for lực n
  • British English: force Pronunciation for force If something or someone forces you to do something, they make you do it, even though you do not want to.A back injury forced her to exit from the race.fɔːs VERB A back injury forced her to exit from the race.
  • Spanish: obligar Pronunciation for obligar v
  • French: forcer Pronunciation for forcer vt
  • German: zwingen Pronunciation for zwingen v
  • Chinese: 强制Pronunciation for 强制 v
  • Arabic: يُجْبِرُPronunciation for يُجْبِرُ vt
  • Portuguese: forçarPronunciation for forçar v
  • Russian: принуждатьPronunciation for принуждать v
  • Croatian: prisilitiPronunciation for prisiliti v
  • Czech: přinutitPronunciation for přinutit v nutit
  • Danish: tvingePronunciation for tvinge v
  • Dutch: forcerenPronunciation for forceren v
  • Finnish: pakottaaPronunciation for pakottaa v
  • Greek: εξαναγκάζωPronunciation for εξαναγκάζω v
  • Italian: forzarePronunciation for forzare v
  • Japanese: 強いるPronunciation for 強いる v
  • Korean: 강요하다Pronunciation for 강요하다 v
  • Norwegian: tvingePronunciation for tvinge v
  • Polish: zmusićPronunciation for zmusić v zmuszać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: forçarPronunciation for forçar v
  • European Spanish: obligar Pronunciation for obligar v
  • Swedish: tvingaPronunciation for tvinga v
  • Thai: ที่ถูกบังคับPronunciation for ที่ถูกบังคับ v
  • Turkish: zorlamakPronunciation for zorlamak v
  • Vietnamese: cưỡng épPronunciation for cưỡng ép v

Usage examples

  • Hythria is a large nation, but the Defenders are a much more coherent force than any my people can muster.
    Jennifer Fallon, TREASON KEEP (2001)
  • It was as if something down below, some dark force , had grabbed his leg and was pulling him to Hell.
    Country Life (2005)
  • Irish pension schemes are much smaller, relative to company size, than their British counterparts but the new regime is also in force here.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • LIMA A PERUVIAN air force plane has shot down a private plane carrying several American missionaries in the Amazon jungle region.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Clearly, the Rainbow Snake is the generative force in the creation of the world.
    James Cowan, ABORIGINE DREAMING: Introduction to the Wisdom and Thought of the Aboriginal Traditions of Australia (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'F'

Related Terms

45 results

View more related terms

Browse nearby words

Browse dictionary