idiom |
1. in force In full strength; in large numbers: Demonstrators were out in force. |
2. in force In effect; operative: a rule that is no longer in force. |
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noun |
1. The capacity to do work or cause physical change; energy, strength, or active power: the force of an explosion. |
2. Power made operative against resistance; exertion: use force in driving a nail. |
3. The use of physical power or violence to compel or restrain: a confession obtained by force. |
4. Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech. |
5. Moral strength. |
6. A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy: the force of logical argumentation. |
7. One that possesses such capacity: the forces of evil. |
8. A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force. |
9. A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics. |
10. Military strength. |
11. The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural. |
12. Law Legal validity. |
13. Physics A vector quantity that tends to produce an acceleration of a body in the direction of its application. |
14. Baseball A force play. |
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verb-transitive |
1. To compel through pressure or necessity: I forced myself to practice daily. He was forced to take a second job. |
2. To gain by the use of force or coercion: force a confession. |
3. To move or effect against resistance or inertia: forced my foot into the shoe. |
4. To inflict or impose relentlessly: He forced his ideas upon the group. |
5. To put undue strain on: She forced her voice despite being hoarse. |
6. To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum. |
7. To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness. |
8. To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd. |
9. To break down or open by force: force a lock. |
10. To rape. |
11. Botany To cause to grow or mature by artificially accelerating normal processes. |
12. Baseball To put (a runner) out on a force play. |
13. Baseball To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded. |
14. Games To cause an opponent to play (a particular card). |
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