# compel

/kəmˈpɛɫ/ (US) · /kəmpˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/compel
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to force someone

verb · CEFR B2

to force someone to do something, often by using a law, a rule, or a strong request.

For teachers: to force, constrain, or coerce an individual to perform an action, often through legal or moral obligation.

- The new law will compel companies to disclose how much waste they produce.
- The court order will compel the defendant to produce the financial records that were previously withheld during the discovery phase.

Usage: Commonly used in the pattern 'compel someone to do something'.

### 2. to cause a reaction

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to make something happen because it is so strong or interesting that you cannot ignore it.

For teachers: to elicit or necessitate a particular feeling, reaction, or course of action through an irresistible influence.

- The evidence was so strong that it compelled the jury to change their minds.
- The speaker's eloquence was such that it compelled immediate attention from even the most cynical members of the audience.

### 3. to drive together

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to force people or animals to move together into one group.

For teachers: to drive together or round up; to gather by force.

- The soldiers sought to compel the villagers into the central square.
- In the epic poem, the shepherd is described as compelling his scattered flock toward the safety of the fold before the storm broke.

## Examples

- The law can compel witnesses to tell the truth in court.
- A sense of duty may compel a person to speak out against an injustice even when it is risky.
- While the contract does not explicitly compel the contractor to provide additional labor, the looming deadline and potential penalties effectively leave them with no other viable choice.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.