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force

n. · v.
US //ˈfɔɹs// UK //fˈɔːs// force
  1. 1 physical power (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    physical strength or energy that can move or change something.

    physical power or intensity exerted by a person, object, or natural phenomenon.

    Example

    The force of the wind was so strong that it blew down several trees.

    Example

    The sheer force of the impact crushed the front of the vehicle, though the safety features protected the passengers from serious injury.
  2. 2 physics (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    a push or pull on an object that makes it move or change direction.

    a vector quantity that tends to produce an acceleration of a body in the direction of its application.

    Example

    Gravity is the force that keeps our feet on the ground.

    Example

    The experiment measures the gravitational force between two masses to determine the constant with greater precision.
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  1. 3 an organized group (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a group of people organized for a specific job, like the police or the army.

    a body of people trained and armed for military or police duties.

    Example

    He decided to join the police force after finishing university.

    Example

    The peacekeeping force was deployed to the border to monitor the ceasefire and prevent further escalations of violence.
  2. 4 legal validity (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    the state of being officially or legally active.

    the state of being legally valid or in operation.

    Example

    The new law comes into force starting next month.

    Example

    The treaty remains in force until such time as a majority of the signatory nations vote for its dissolution.
    • invalidity
  3. 5 Star Wars (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Humorous

    a mysterious power used by characters in the Star Wars movies.

    a metaphysical power or energy field in the Star Wars fictional universe.

    Example

    May the Force be with you.

    Example

    The protagonist's journey involves learning to harness the Force to restore balance to the galaxy.

  4. 6 to compel (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make someone do something they do not want to do.

    to compel or oblige someone to act in a certain way, often through pressure or threats.

    Example

    You cannot force him to eat his vegetables if he really hates them.

    Example

    The economic crisis may force the government to implement unpopular austerity measures to secure the international loan.
  5. 7 to break open (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to use physical strength to open something that is locked or stuck.

    to break open or through something by using physical violence or pressure.

    Example

    The firefighters had to force the door open to reach the family.

    Example

    The burglars managed to force the safe, though they were interrupted by the alarm before they could remove the contents.
Etymology 1

From Middle English force, fors, forse, from Old French force, from Late Latin fortia, a noun derived from the neuter plural of Latin fortis (“strong”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to rise, high, hill”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English forcen, from Old French forcier, from Late Latin *fortiāre, from Latin fortia.

Etymology 3

From Middle English force, forz, fors, from Old Norse fors (“waterfall”), from Proto-Germanic *fursaz (“waterfall”). Cognate with Icelandic foss (“waterfall”), Norwegian foss (“waterfall”), Swedish fors (“waterfall”). Doublet of foss.

Etymology 4

From Middle English forcen, forsen, a use of force, with confusion of farce (“to stuff”).

Word family
Idioms6 entries

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