noun
plural forces
[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] :something (such as rain or wind) that occurs in nature and that can be very powerful - usually plural
[count] a group of soldiers trained to fight in a war
[count] :a group of people who do a particular job or are available for a particular purpose
c the Force informal :police force
d the forces Brit :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
[count] baseball :force-out
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
moving force
verb
forces; forced; forcing
[+ obj] 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
force the issue
force your way
to move ahead by pushing and making people move out of your way