Force Extra Examples Government Military Power Person Full

• the release of the hostages could not be achieved without the use of force.
• if persuasion doesn't work, they use force.
• the government has relied on brute force to respond to public discontent.
• the rioters were taken away by force.

force

Word Family

• force noun verb
• forceful adjective
• forcefully adverb
• forced adjective (≠ unforced)
• forcible adjective
• forcibly adverb
• enforce verb
1. violent physical action used to obtain or achieve something
• The release of the hostages could not be achieved without the use of force.
• If persuasion doesn't work, they use force.
• The government has relied on brute force to respond to public discontent.
• The rioters were taken away by force.
• The empire was held together by military force.
• plans to seize power by force of arms (= by military force)

Extra Examples

• The regulations allow the use of force if necessary.
• The country's attempts to meet force with force led to the outbreak of war.
• Police were accused of using excessive force.
• The ultimatum contained the threat of military force.
• We will achieve much more by persuasion than by brute force.
2. physical strength, especially as shown when something hits something else
• the force of the explosion/impact
• The shopping centre took the full force of the blast.
• You have to apply some force to move the lever.
• She hits the ball with amazing force for someone so small.

Extra Examples

• He staggered backwards from the force of the blow.
• The force of the explosion hurled bodies into the air.
• The waves were breaking against the rocks with great force.
• A thick wall shielded us from the force of the wind.
3. the strong effect or influence of something
• They realized the force of her argument.
• a leader who inspired others with the force of his personality
• He controlled himself by sheer force of will.
• Grant drove the point home with considerable force.
• She spoke with force and deliberation.

Extra Examples

• I felt the full force of her criticism.
• She used her sheer force of personality to keep the family together.
• Suddenly it came home to me with tremendous force that this was my last chance.
• The emotional force of the songs derives from their universal themes.
4. a person or thing that has a lot of power or influence
• the forces of good/evil
• They believe that market forces should determine prices.
• Ron is the driving force (= the person who has the most influence) behind the project.
• She's a force to be reckoned with (= a person who has a lot of power and influence and should therefore be treated seriously).
• a force for good/evil
• The expansion of higher education should be a powerful force for change.
• He was finally defeated by forces beyond his control.
• Social media has become a major force in political campaigns.

Extra Examples

• The idea of the West remains a powerful force in American culture.
• She was seen as a potentially disruptive force within the party.
• The play portrays a marriage torn apart by external forces.
• Though officially retired, she remains the creative force behind the design business.
• Many social and economic forces contributed to this trend.
• the combined forces of MI5 and Scotland Yard
5. the authority of something
• The court ruled that these standards have force in English law.
• The contract was not signed and has no binding force.
• These guidelines do not have the force of law.
• The culprits must expect to face the full force of the law.
6. a group of people who have been organized for a particular purpose
• SEE ALSO labour force
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/labour-force
• a member of the sales force
• She has attracted a force of passionate young individuals who are committed to the organization.
7. a trained and organized group of police, soldiers or other military personnel
• SEE ALSO air force
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/air-force
• Rebel forces now control most of the capital.
• Government forces captured the rebel positions.
• coalition/allied forces
• a peacekeeping force
• He called on the local population to rise up against the occupying forces.
• American special forces pride themselves on their elite status.
• The government deployed military forces to attack terrorist strongholds.
• The British were ordered to withdraw their forces immediately.

Extra Examples

• Allied ground forces would move in rapidly.
• Allied forces were able to advance to the capital.
• a token force of only 300 men
• These elite forces are the best equipped and trained in the world.
• UN forces operating in the region
• More troops have been called in to support the coalition forces there.
• a UN deadline for the withdrawal of forces
• A large expeditionary force was assembled.
8. the army, navy and air force
• SEE ALSO armed forces
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/the-armed-forces
• life in the forces
• Daisy intends to join the forces when she leaves school this summer.
9. the weapons and soldiers that an army, etc. has, considered as things that may be used
• strategic nuclear forces.
• The government is negotiating cuts to nuclear forces.
10. the police force
• He joined the force twenty years ago.
11. an effect that causes things to move in a particular way
• SEE ALSO centrifugal force
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/centrifugal-force
• The moon exerts a force on the earth.
• the force of gravity
• the sun's magnetic force
• Because of the increased mass, more force is needed to accelerate the object.

Extra Examples

• Deep internal forces cause movements of the earth's crust.
• The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction.
• lateral forces acting on the car's suspension
• the attractive and repulsive forces between individual particles
12. a unit for measuring the strength of the wind on the Beaufort scale
• a force 9 gale
• a gale force wind

Extra Examples

• The wind was increasing to gale force.
• hurricane-force winds
13. to cause a law, rule, etc. to start being used
• They are hoping to bring the new legislation into force before the end of the year.
14. to start being used
• When do the new regulations come into force?
• The new law comes into force as from midnight tomorrow.
15. if you do something from or out of force of habit, you do it without thinking about it and in a particular way because you have always done it that way in the past
• It's force of habit that gets me out of bed at 6.15 each morning.
16. a person with a very strong personality who is full of energy, very determined and difficult for others to resist
• Gerard is a force of nature, continually pursuing his target when everyone else is ready to give up.
17. the power of the wind, rain, etc., especially when it causes damage or harm
• They were fighting a losing battle against the forces of nature.
18. in large numbers
• Protesters turned out in force.
19. being used
• The new regulations are now in force.

Extra Examples

• Several archaic laws are still in force.
• Some laws relating to obsolete customs are still in force.
20. to work together in order to achieve a shared aim
• The two firms joined forces to win the contract.
• The two companies have joined forces to form a new consortium.
21. a person or group that no longer has any power or influence
• The opposition party is now a spent political force.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French force (noun), forcer (verb), based on Latin fortis ‘strong’.