force

Force is strength or power. (noun)

An example of force is someone using their hand to push open a door.
An example of force is a police man pointing a gun at an armed person in order to get them to drop their weapon.

Force means to make someone or something do something. (verb)

An example of force is using strength to open a jar.

See force in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

strength; energy; vigor; power
the intensity of power; impetus: the force of a blow
1. physical power or strength exerted against a person or thing: to use force in opening a door
2. the use of physical power to overcome or restrain a person; physical coercion; violence: to resort to force in dispersing a mob
the power of a person to act effectively and vigorously; moral or intellectual strength: force of character
1. the power to control, persuade, influence, etc.; effectiveness: the force of circumstances, an argument lacking force
2. a person, thing, or group having a certain influence, power, etc.: a force for good
the real or precise meaning; basic point: to miss the force of something said
1. military, naval, or air power
2. the collective armed strength, as of a nation
3. any organized group of soldiers, sailors, etc.
any group of people organized for some activity: a sales force, a police force
Law binding power; validity
Physics the cause, or agent, that puts an object at rest into motion or alters the motion of a moving object: abbrev. F

transitive verb forced, forcing

to cause to do something by or as if by force; compel
to rape (a woman)
1. to break open, into, or through by force: to force a lock
2. to make (a way, etc.) by force
3. to overpower or capture by breaking into, through, etc.: to force the enemy's stronghold
to get or take by force; wrest; extort: forcing the gun from his hand
to drive by or as by force; cause to move against resistance; impel: to force an article into a filled box
to impose by or as by force: with on or upon: to force one's attentions on another
to effect or produce by or as by force; produce by unusual or unnatural effort: to force a smile
to exert beyond the natural limits or capacity; strain: to force one's voice
to cause (plants, fruit, etc.) to develop or grow faster by artificial means
Obsolete
1. to give or add force to
2. to put in force
☆ Baseball
1. to cause (a base runner) to be put out by a force-out: said of a batter
2. to cause (a runner) to score or (a run) to be scored by walking the batter with the bases full: often with in
1. Card Games to cause (an opponent) to play (a particular card)
2. Bridge to make a bid that requires (one's partner) to bid in response

Related Forms:

See force in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(fôrs, fōrs)

noun

The capacity to do work or cause physical change; energy, strength, or active power: the force of an explosion.
a. Power made operative against resistance; exertion: use force in driving a nail.
b. The use of physical power or violence to compel or restrain: a confession obtained by force.
a. Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech.
b. Moral strength.
c. A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy: the force of logical argumentation.
d. One that possesses such capacity: the forces of evil.
a. A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force.
b. A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
a. Military strength.
b. The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
c. A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
Law Legal validity.
Physics A vector quantity that tends to produce an acceleration of a body in the direction of its application.
Baseball A force play.

transitive verb forced forced, forc·ing, forc·es

To compel through pressure or necessity: I forced myself to practice daily. He was forced to take a second job.
a. To gain by the use of force or coercion: force a confession.
b. To move or effect against resistance or inertia: forced my foot into the shoe.
c. To inflict or impose relentlessly: He forced his ideas upon the group.
a. To put undue strain on: She forced her voice despite being hoarse.
b. To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum.
c. To produce with effort and against one's will: force a laugh in spite of pain.
d. To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness.
a. To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd.
b. To break down or open by force: force a lock.
To rape.
Botany To cause to grow or mature by artificially accelerating normal processes.
Baseball
a. To put (a runner) out on a force play.
b. To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
Games To cause an opponent to play (a particular card).