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force

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force¹

  • /fɔːs/ UK
  • /foːs/ Australia, British, New Zealand
  • /foɹs/ Canada, US
  • [fo̞ɹs] Canada, US
  • /foɾs/ Scotland
  • /fɔːs/
  • /foəs/ Eastern New England
  • /fɔəs/ UK, obsolete
  • /foːɹs/
  • /foː(ɾ)s/ South Asia
  • /fɒ(ɾ)s/ South Asia

Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)s

Where it comes from

From Middle English force, fors, forse, from Old French force, from Late Latin fortia, a noun derived from the neuter plural of Latin fortis (“strong”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to rise, high, hill”).

noun forces

  1. countable, uncountable Ability to influence; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect. the force of an appeal, an argument, or a contract
  2. uncountable The generalized abstraction of this concept. Torque is the rotational version of force.
  3. countable A particular form or type of force. Most physicists deem there to be four fundamental forces: the weak force, the strong force, gravitation, and the electromagnetic force.
  4. capitalized, countable, humorous, often, uncountable, with the A metaphysical and ubiquitous power from the fictional Star Wars universe created by George Lucas. See usage note. The Europeans tried, my goodness how they tried. But on the day the US proved too strong and too inspired. They were, dammit, just better. And when Leonard's putt dropped they clearly had the force with them as well.
  5. countable An instance of a physical force. A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial
  6. possibly, proscribed, uncountable Force understood as something of which there can be an amount. Heavier objects are those that are subject to more gravitational force.
  7. countable Anything that is able to make a substantial change in a person or thing.
  8. countable, uncountable Something or anything that has the power to produce a physical effect upon something else, such as causing it to move or change shape.
  9. countable Something that exerts influence. force of nature

    Similar: influence, factor, pressure

  10. countable, uncountable Something that, over time, influences a system with which it interacts (with a connotation of underlyingness, subtlety, or indirectness). I believe that the main long-term force that guides a society's evolution is not the economy or the leaders, but the culture.

    Similar: influence, factor, pressure

  11. uncountable Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion. which now they hold by force, and not by right
  12. countable, uncountable Either unlawful violence, as in a "forced entry", or lawful compulsion.
  13. countable A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group). air force; police force
  14. countable, uncountable Any large, organized group involved in a military engagement.
  15. countable, plural, singular, uncountable Military personnel, collectively, including any vehicles, ships, or aircraft. More broadly, the military or police altogether. After only a week, Japanese forces had captured Singapore from the British.
  16. countable, plural, singular, uncountable, usually, with definite article Synonym of police force. Q. All the time that he was on the force? A. I cannot say that; but there were men on with me when I was on the force who were very good Republicans. Q. During all this time you have been on the police force?

    Similar: police force

  17. uncountable The state of having legal weight, of being legally valid,. The law will come into force in January.

    Similar: effect

  18. countable A magic trick in which the outcome is known to the magician beforehand, especially one involving the apparent free choice of a card by another person.
  19. countable, uncountable Ability of an utterance or its element (word, form, prosody, ...) to effect a given meaning. When the aspectual force of the verbal categories weakens, the 'terminative', punctual or determinative value of the prefix gains in importance,...
  20. countable, uncountable The annualized instantaneous rate of change at a particular timepoint. force of mortality

force²

  • /fɔːs/ UK
  • /foːs/ Australia, British, New Zealand
  • /foɹs/ Canada, US
  • [fo̞ɹs] Canada, US
  • /foɾs/ Scotland
  • /fɔːs/
  • /foəs/ Eastern New England
  • /fɔəs/ UK, obsolete
  • /foːɹs/
  • /foː(ɾ)s/ South Asia
  • /fɒ(ɾ)s/ South Asia

Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)s

Where it comes from

From Middle English forcen, from Old French forcier, from Late Latin *fortiāre, from Latin fortia.

verb forces · forcing · forced · force

  1. transitive To make someone or something do something, often regardless of their will. Captain Edward Carlisle[…]felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze,[…]; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as t

    Similar: thrust

  2. transitive To constrain by force; to overcome the limitations or resistance of. Shall wee force the general law of nature, which in all living creatures under heaven is seene to tremble at paine?
  3. transitive To drive (something) by force, to propel (generally + prepositional phrase or adverb). It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay / That scarce the victor forced the steel away.

    Similar: thrust

  4. transitive To cause to occur (despite inertia, resistance etc.); to produce through force. The comedian's jokes weren't funny, but I forced a laugh now and then.
  5. transitive To forcibly open (a door, lock etc.). I forgot my keys in and so we had to force (open) the door.
  6. transitive To violate (a woman); to rape. For yf ye were suche fyfty as ye be / ye were not able to make resystence ageynst this deuyl / here lyeth a duchesse deede the whiche was the fayrest of alle the world wyf to syre Howel / duc of Bretayne / he hath murthred her in forcynge her / and has slytte her vnto the nauyl

    Similar: abuse, defile, outrage, constuprate, defoul, dishonour, force, misuse, oppress, pollute, rape, ravage

  7. intransitive, obsolete, reflexive To exert oneself, to do one's utmost. And I pray you for my sake to force yourselff there, that men may speke you worshyp.
  8. To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress.
  9. transitive To create an out by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground. Jones forced the runner at second by stepping on the bag.
  10. To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit that he/she does not hold.
  11. archaic To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce. VVhat can the Church force more?
  12. archaic To provide with forces; to reinforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison. Were they not forc’d with thoſe that ſhould be ours, / We might haue met them darefull, beard to beard, / And beate them backward home.
  13. obsolete To allow the force of; to value; to care for. For me, I force not argument a straw.
  14. To grow (rhubarb) in the dark, causing it to grow early.

force³

  • /fɔːs/ UK
  • /foːs/ Australia, British, New Zealand
  • /foɹs/ Canada, US
  • [fo̞ɹs] Canada, US
  • /foɾs/ Scotland
  • /fɔːs/
  • /foəs/ Eastern New England
  • /fɔəs/ UK, obsolete
  • /foːɹs/
  • /foː(ɾ)s/ South Asia
  • /fɒ(ɾ)s/ South Asia

Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)s

Where it comes from

From Middle English force, forz, fors, from Old Norse fors (“waterfall”), from Proto-Germanic *fursaz (“waterfall”). Cognate with Icelandic foss (“waterfall”), Norwegian foss (“waterfall”), Swedish fors (“waterfall”). Doublet of foss.

noun forces

  1. Northern England, countable A waterfall or cascade. to see the falls or force of the river Kent

force⁴

  • /fɔːs/ UK
  • /foːs/ Australia, British, New Zealand
  • /foɹs/ Canada, US
  • [fo̞ɹs] Canada, US
  • /foɾs/ Scotland
  • /fɔːs/
  • /foəs/ Eastern New England
  • /fɔəs/ UK, obsolete
  • /foːɹs/
  • /foː(ɾ)s/ South Asia
  • /fɒ(ɾ)s/ South Asia

Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)s

Where it comes from

From Middle English forcen, forsen, a use of force, with confusion of farce (“to stuff”).

verb forces · forcing · forced

  1. To stuff; to lard; to farce. Wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit.

Force⁵

Where it comes from

From Old Norse fors or foss (“waterfall”).

proper noun

  1. Northern England Falls. used in place names.

Force⁶

proper noun Forces · Vorce

  1. A surname.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: strength, drive, forcefulness, power, impel, coerce, violence, push, pressure, effect, pull, squeeze, run, personnel, draw, thrust

Translations

Every language

noun power exerted against will or consent

Españolfuerza
日本語強制 kyōsei
Русскийсила sila

noun physical quantity

Españolfuerza
한국어힘 him
日本語力 chikara
हिन्दीबल bal
Portuguêsforça
Françaisforce
DeutschKraft
Italianoforza
Ελληνικάδύναμη dýnami
Românăforță
Русскийси́ла síla
Tiếng Việtlực
العربيةقُوَّة quwwa
עבריתכוח

noun group that aims to attack, control, or constrain

日本語勢力 seiryoku
हिन्दीबल bal
Portuguêsforça
Françaisforces
DeutschKräfte
Italianoforza
Ελληνικάδύναμη dýnami, σώμα sóma
Русскийотря́д otrjád
Tiếng Việtlực lượng
עבריתכח

noun ability to attack, control, or constrain

Portuguêsforça
Françaispouvoir
DeutschKraft
Русскийси́ла síla

noun strength or energy of body or mind

Españolfuerza, ñeque
日本語力 chikara
हिन्दीबल bal
DeutschKraft
Русскийсила sila
العربيةقُوَّة quwwa

noun science fiction: binding, metaphysical, and ubiquitous power

日本語フォース fōsu
Portuguêsforça
FrançaisForce
DeutschMacht
Русскийсила sila
Tiếng Việtthần lực

noun anything that is able to make a big change in person or thing

Españolfuerza
한국어힘 him
日本語力 chikara
中文武力 wǔlì
हिन्दीज़ोर zor, बल bal
Kiswahilimabavu
Portuguêsforça
Françaisforce
DeutschGewalt
Italianoforza
Ελληνικάδύναμη dýnami, ισχύς ischýs, σθένος sthénos
Românăforță
Русскийси́ла síla, мощь moščʹ, дурь durʹ
العربيةقُوَّة quwwa
עבריתכוח \ כֹּחַ kóakh

noun anything that has the power to produce an effect upon something else

Españolpolenta
Русскийсила sila

noun law: unlawful violence or lawful compulsion

Ελληνικάβία vía
Русскийси́ла síla, наси́лие nasílije
Tiếng Việtvũ lực

noun law: legal validity

Portuguêsvalidade
Ελληνικάισχύς ischýs, κύρος kýros
Русскийвласть vlastʹ

noun type of magic trick

Françaistruc
Русскийтрюк trjuk

verb to cause to occur, produce through force

Españolforzar, violentar, forcejar
Portuguêsforçar
Françaisforcer
Deutscherzwingen
Italianoforzare
Românăforța

verb to forcibly open

Españolforzar, violentar, descerrajar
Portuguêsarrombar
Italianoforzare

verb to compel someone to do something

한국어강요하다 gang'yohada
日本語強いる shiiru
中文強迫 /强迫 qiǎngpò, 迫使 pòshǐ, 迫 pò, 逼迫 bīpò, 逼 bī, 脅迫 /胁迫 xiépò
हिन्दीविवश करना vivaś karnā
Portuguêsforçar, obrigar, compelir
Françaisforcer, contraindre
Deutschzwingen
Italianoforzare, costringere
Ελληνικάαναγκάζω anagkázo
Românăforța, supune, violenta
Русскийзаставля́ть zastavljátʹ, заста́вить zastávitʹ, принужда́ть prinuždátʹ, прину́дить prinúditʹ
Tiếng Việtbắt, ép
العربيةأَجْبَرَ ʔajbara, اِضْطَرَّ iḍṭarra

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Cite this
MLA

"force." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/force. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

force. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/force

Chicago

"force." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/force.

BibTeX
@misc{force_2026,
  title = {force},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/force},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}