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force

1 force /ˈfoɚs/ noun
plural forces
1 force
/ˈfoɚs/
noun
plural forces
Britannica Dictionary definition of FORCE
[noncount] : physical strength, power, or effect
[noncount] : power or violence used on a person or thing
[noncount] : strength or power that is not physical
technical : a natural power or effect that is able to change the speed or direction of something
[noncount]
[count]
see also centrifugal force
[count] : something (such as rain or wind) that occurs in nature and that can be very powerful usually plural
sometimes used figuratively
[count]
: a group of soldiers trained to fight in a war
see also air force
[count] : a group of people who do a particular job or are available for a particular purpose
see also task force
the Force informal : police force
the forces British : armed forces
[count] : a person or group that has the power to do something or make something happen
used to describe the strength of a wind

in force

: in large numbers
of a law, rule, etc. : actually working or operating

into force

: into the condition of actually working or operating

join forces

also combine forces
: to begin working together in order to achieve something often + with

moving force

see moving
see also tour de force
2 force /ˈfoɚs/ verb
forces; forced; forcing
2 force
/ˈfoɚs/
verb
forces; forced; forcing
Britannica Dictionary definition of FORCE
[+ object]
: to make (someone) do something that he or she does not want to do
: to make it necessary for (someone) to do something
: to make (something) necessary
: to cause the occurrence of (something that other people do not want to happen)
: to move (someone or something) by physical effort
: to cause (something) to open by using physical effort or violence
: to produce (something, such as a smile) by making an effort
baseball : to cause (a runner) to be put out by means of a force-out

force on/upon

[phrasal verb]
force (someone or something) on/upon (someone)
: to cause (someone or something that is not wanted) to be accepted by (someone)

force someone's hand

: to make it necessary for someone to do something

force (something) down someone's throat

see throat

force the issue

see 1issue

force your way

: to move ahead by pushing and making people move out of your way