FORCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does force mean? 

• FORCE (noun)
  The noun FORCE has 10 senses:

1. a powerful effect or influence

2. (physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity

3. physical energy or intensity

4. group of people willing to obey orders

5. a unit that is part of some military service

6. an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)

7. one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority

8. a group of people having the power of effective action

9. (of a law) having legal validity

10. a putout of a base runner who is required to run; the putout is accomplished by holding the ball while touching the base to which the runner must advance before the runner reaches that base

  Familiarity information: FORCE used as a noun is familiar.

• FORCE (verb)
  The verb FORCE has 8 senses:

1. to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

2. urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate

3. move with force

4. impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably

5. squeeze like a wedge into a tight space

6. force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically

7. do forcibly; exert force

8. take by force

  Familiarity information: FORCE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FORCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A powerful effect or influence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the force of his eloquence easily persuaded them

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

influence (a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "force"):

pressure (a force that compels)

duress (compulsory force or threat)

heartbeat (an animating or vital unifying force)

lifeblood (an essential or life-giving force)

wheel (forces that provide energy and direction)

Derivation:

force (impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably)

force (do forcibly; exert force)

force (urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate)

force (to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Context example:

force equals mass times acceleration

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

physical phenomenon (a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy)

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "force"):

affinity; chemical attraction (the force attracting atoms to each other and binding them together in a molecule)

elan vital; life force; vital force; vitality ((biology) a hypothetical force (not physical or chemical) once thought by Henri Bergson to cause the evolution and development of organisms)

magnetomotive force (the force that produces magnetic flux)

torque; torsion (a twisting force)

stress ((physics) force that produces strain on a physical body)

reaction ((mechanics) the equal and opposite force that is produced when any force is applied to a body)

push; thrust (the force used in pushing)

pull (the force used in pulling)

propulsion (a propelling force)

moment (a turning force produced by an object acting at a distance (or a measure of that force))

Lorentz force (the force experienced by a point charge moving along a wire that is in a magnetic field; the force is at right angles to both the current and the magnetic field)

drift; impetus; impulsion (a force that moves something along)

Coriolis force ((physics) a force due to the earth's rotation; acts on a body in motion (airplane or projectile) in a rotating reference frame; in a rotating frame of reference Newton's second law of motion can be made to apply if in addition to the real forces acting on a body a Coriolis force and a centrifugal force are introduced)

cohesion ((physics) the intermolecular force that holds together the molecules in a solid or liquid)

centripetal force (the inward force on a body moving in a curved path around another body)

centrifugal force (the outward force on a body moving in a curved path around another body)

repulsion; repulsive force (the force by which bodies repel one another)

attraction; attractive force (the force by which one object attracts another)

aerodynamic force (forces acting on airfoils in motion relative to the air (or other gaseous fluids))

Derivation:

force (do forcibly; exert force)

force (move with force)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Physical energy or intensity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

force; forcefulness; strength

Context example:

a government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

intensity; intensiveness (high level or degree; the property of being intense)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "force"):

brunt (main force of a blow etc)

impulse; momentum (an impelling force or strength)

energy; vigor; vigour; zip (forceful exertion)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Group of people willing to obey orders

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

force; personnel

Context example:

a public force is necessary to give security to the rights of citizens

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

organisation; organization (a group of people who work together)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "force"):

management personnel (personnel having overall planning and direction responsibilities)

line personnel (personnel having direct job performance responsibilities)

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

staff (personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task)

rank; rank and file (the ordinary members of an organization (such as the enlisted soldiers of an army))

military personnel; soldiery; troops (soldiers collectively)

patrol (a group that goes through a region at regular intervals for the purpose of security)

hands; manpower; men; work force; workforce (the force of workers available)

military police; MP (a military corps that enforces discipline and guards prisoners)

private security force; security force (a privately employed group hired to protect the security of a business or industry)

constabulary; law; police; police force (the force of policemen and officers)

paramilitary; paramilitary force; paramilitary organisation; paramilitary organization; paramilitary unit (a group of civilians organized in a military fashion (especially to operate in place of or to assist regular army troops))

armed service; military service; service (a force that is a branch of the armed forces)

guerilla force; guerrilla force (an irregular armed force that fights by sabotage and harassment; often rural and organized in large groups)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A unit that is part of some military service

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

force; military force; military group; military unit

Context example:

he sent Caesar a force of six thousand men

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

social unit; unit (an organization regarded as part of a larger social group)

Meronyms (members of "force"):

man; military man; military personnel; serviceman (someone who serves in the armed forces; a member of a military force)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "force"):

legion (a large military unit)

Republican Guard (formerly Iraq's elite military unit whose primary role was to protect the government in Baghdad)

echelon (a body of troops arranged in a line)

phalanx (a body of troops in close array)

Haganah (the clandestine military wing of the Jewish leadership during the British rule over the mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948; became the basis for the Israeli defense force)

IDF; Israeli Defense Force (the ground and air and naval forces of Israel)

militia; reserves (civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army)

commando (an amphibious military unit trained for raids into enemy territory)

contingent; detail (a temporary military unit)

headquarters ((plural) a military unit consisting of a commander and the headquarters staff)

spearhead (the leading military unit in an attack)

mujahadeen; mujahadein; mujahadin; mujahedeen; mujahedin; mujahideen; mujahidin (a military force of Muslim guerilla warriors engaged in a jihad)

guard (a military unit serving to protect some place or person)

trip wire (a small military force that serves as a first line of defense; if they become engaged in hostilities it will trigger the intervention of stronger military forces)

command (a military unit or region under the control of a single officer)

enemy (an opposing military force)

task force (a temporary military unit formed to accomplish a particular objective)

army unit (a military unit that is part of an army)

naval unit (a military unit that is part of a navy)

air unit (a military unit that is part of the airforce)

armor; armour (a military unit consisting of armored fighting vehicles)

Holonyms ("force" is a member of...):

armed service; military service; service (a force that is a branch of the armed forces)

Sense 6

Meaning:

An act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

force; violence

Context example:

he may accomplish by craft in the long run what he cannot do by force and violence in the short one

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

aggression; hostility (violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "force"):

road rage (violence exhibited by drivers in traffic)

domestic violence (violence or physical abuse directed toward your spouse or domestic partner or other members of a household)

public violence; riot (a public act of violence by an unruly mob)

Derivation:

force (take by force)

Sense 7

Meaning:

One possessing or exercising power or influence or authority

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

force; power

Context example:

the forces of evil

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

causal agency; causal agent; cause (any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "force"):

Moloch (a tyrannical power to be propitiated by human subservience or sacrifice)

juggernaut; steamroller (a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way)

influence (one having power to influence another)

Derivation:

force (impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably)

force (do forcibly; exert force)

force (to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A group of people having the power of effective action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Context example:

he joined forces with a band of adventurers

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

social group (people sharing some social relation)

Sense 9

Meaning:

(of a law) having legal validity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

effect; force

Context example:

the law is still in effect

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

validity; validness (the quality of having legal force or effectiveness)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Sense 10

Meaning:

A putout of a base runner who is required to run; the putout is accomplished by holding the ball while touching the base to which the runner must advance before the runner reaches that base

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

force; force-out; force out; force play

Context example:

the shortstop got the runner at second on a force

Hypernyms ("force" is a kind of...):

putout (an out resulting from a fielding play (not a strikeout))

Domain category:

ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

• FORCE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

To cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

coerce; force; hale; pressure; squeeze

Context example:

He squeezed her for information

Hypernyms (to "force" is one way to...):

compel; obligate; oblige (force somebody to do something)

Cause:

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "force"):

turn up the heat; turn up the pressure (apply great or increased pressure)

drive (to compel or force or urge relentlessly or exert coercive pressure on, or motivate strongly)

bludgeon (overcome or coerce as if by using a heavy club)

steamroll; steamroller (bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure)

squeeze for (squeeze someone for money, information, etc.)

dragoon; railroad; sandbag (compel by coercion, threats, or crude means)

terrorise; terrorize (coerce by violence or with threats)

bring oneself (cause to undertake a certain action, usually used in the negative)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something

Sentence example:

They force him to write the letter

Derivation:

force (a powerful effect or influence)

force (one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

force; impel

Hypernyms (to "force" is one way to...):

cause; do; make (give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They force him to write the letter

Derivation:

force (a powerful effect or influence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move with force

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

force; push

Context example:

He pushed the table into a corner

Hypernyms (to "force" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

"Force" entails doing...:

press (exert pressure or force to or upon)

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Verb group:

push (press against forcefully without moving)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "force"):

nudge; poke at; prod (to push against gently)

tip; topple; tumble (cause to topple or tumble by pushing)

shove; squeeze; stuff; thrust (press or force)

jam (push down forcibly)

drive (urge forward)

thrust (push forcefully)

push up (push upward)

muscle into (force one's way)

push aside; push away (push out of the way)

obtrude; push out; thrust out (push to thrust outward)

nose (push or move with the nose)

jostle; shove (come into rough contact with while moving)

flick; jerk (throw or toss with a quick motion)

shove (push roughly)

beat back; drive; force back; push back; repel; repulse (cause to move back by force or influence)

press; push (make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

force out (press, force, or thrust out of a small space)

force out (force or drive out)

Derivation:

force ((physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity)

forcible (impelled by physical force especially against resistance)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

force; thrust

Context example:

She forced her diet fads on him

Hypernyms (to "force" is one way to...):

compel; obligate; oblige (force somebody to do something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "force"):

stick; sting (saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something on somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something

Derivation:

force (a powerful effect or influence)

force (one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Squeeze like a wedge into a tight space

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

force; squeeze; wedge

Context example:

I squeezed myself into the corner

Hypernyms (to "force" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "force"):

compact; compress; pack together (make more compact by or as if by pressing)

impact (press or wedge together; pack together)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 6

Meaning:

Force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

drive; force; ram

Context example:

He drives me mad

Hypernyms (to "force" is one way to...):

thrust (push forcefully)

Verb group:

drive (compel somebody to do something, often against his own will or judgment)

drive (to compel or force or urge relentlessly or exert coercive pressure on, or motivate strongly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "force"):

toe; toenail (drive obliquely)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 7

Meaning:

Do forcibly; exert force

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Don't force it!

Hypernyms (to "force" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "force"):

pull (apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Also:

force out (expel from one's property or force to move out by a legal process)

force out (cause to come out in a squirt)

force back (cause to move back by force or influence)

force out (force with the thumb)

Derivation:

force (one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority)

force ((physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity)

force (a powerful effect or influence)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Take by force

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

force; storm

Context example:

Storm the fort

Hypernyms (to "force" is one way to...):

penetrate; perforate (pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

force (an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists))

 Context examples 

“At present I cannot spare energy and nerve force for digestion,” he would say in answer to my medical remonstrances.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Bankers’ safes had been forced before now, and why should not mine be?

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Hans refused to go near Dennin, and Edith was forced to conduct this portion of the investigation by herself.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

I strove vainly to force my fingers down on the triggers, and vainly I strove to say something.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Then for the first time the horror of my situation came in its full force.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He had accepted the world as the world, but now he was comprehending the organization of it, the play and interplay of force and matter.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“If there is anything in the world,” said my aunt, with great decision and force of manner, “that Mr. Dick is not, it's that.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

White Fang drove in upon it: but his own shoulder was high above, while he struck with such force that his momentum carried him on across over the other's body.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

As Buck slid along with the obscureness of a gliding shadow, his nose was jerked suddenly to the side as though a positive force had gripped and pulled it.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

My senses swam, but I still tore at the hand and forced it out from my chin.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)