force
High (B1/B2)Broad register: used in everyday, academic, legal, military, and scientific contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Physical strength, power, or energy that causes movement or a change in motion.
Also refers to a powerful influence, a group of people organized for a particular purpose (e.g., military, police), or the act of compelling someone to do something against their will.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it spans concrete/physical power and abstract/social/moral influence. As a verb, often implies overcoming resistance. Can be neutral, positive (e.g., driving force), or negative (e.g., use of force).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in compounds (e.g., BrE 'forceful' vs. AmE also 'forceful'; both identical). The usage of 'the forces' to mean the armed forces is more common in BrE.
Connotations
Largely identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
force someone to do somethingforce something on/upon someoneforce something open/shutforce your way through/intoforce a smileVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “force someone's hand”
- “force the issue”
- “in force (in large numbers)”
- “a force to be reckoned with”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to competitive pressures, sales force, or driving market forces.
Academic
Used in physics (e.g., gravitational force), social sciences (e.g., social forces), and law (e.g., entry into force of a treaty).
Everyday
Common for describing physical effort, weather (gale-force winds), or making someone do something.
Technical
Specific meaning in physics: an interaction that changes the motion of an object (F=ma).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The force of the impact shattered the glass.
- He joined the police force after university.
American English
- The bill will come into force next year.
- Market forces will determine the final price.
verb
British English
- The new regulations will force a change in policy.
- He didn't want to go, but she forced him.
American English
- Bad weather forced the game to be canceled.
- I had to force the window open after locking my keys inside.
adverb
British English
- (Rare as a standalone adverb; appears in compounds like 'forcefully')
- She argued her case forcefully.
American English
- (Rare as a standalone adverb; appears in compounds like 'forcibly')
- He was forcibly removed from the premises.
adjective
British English
- Force majeure clauses are important in contracts.
- It was a force-ten gale.
American English
- Force majeure events include hurricanes and wars.
- The storm reached force twelve on the scale.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Don't force the door; use the key.
- The wind is a strong force today.
- The government used force to stop the protest.
- You can't force people to change their opinions.
- Economic forces have driven the company to close its oldest factory.
- The treaty came into force in January 2020.
- She is a formidable force in the world of contemporary art.
- The prosecution argued that he was acting under duress, not of his own free will.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FORK-lift truck using immense FORCE to lift heavy objects.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT IS WAR / INFLUENCE IS PHYSICAL FORCE (e.g., 'He was forced to concede.', 'The force of her argument').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'форс' (show-off). The main translations are 'сила' (power), 'войска/силы' (armed forces), and 'заставлять' (to compel). 'Force majeure' is a legal term from French, not directly translated.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'force that' instead of 'force someone to' (Incorrect: *She forced that he left. Correct: She forced him to leave). Overusing where 'make' or 'persuade' is more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In physics, 'force' is best defined as:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it can imply coercion, it is often neutral (e.g., 'the force of gravity', 'sales force') or positive (e.g., 'a force for good', 'driving force behind the project').
'Strength' is an inherent capacity or quality (e.g., muscle strength, strength of character). 'Force' is the application of strength or power to produce an effect (e.g., the force of a punch, external economic forces).
Not commonly as a standalone adjective. It is used in compound adjectives (e.g., 'force-fed', 'force-fit') and in specific fixed phrases (e.g., 'force majeure', 'force ten gale'). The related adjectives are 'forceful' and 'forcible'.
It has two main meanings: 1) (of a law/rule) valid and operational. 2) (of people) present in large numbers (e.g., 'Protesters were out in force').