force
force
Pronunciation
IPA: /fɔːrs/ or /fɔːrs/ (depending on dialect; the first is more common in Received Pronunciation and the second in General American)
fɔːrs:
fɔːrs:
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/ɔː/ - open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "thought")
/r/ - approximant
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: force
Plural Noun: forces
Verb (Base Form): force
Verb (Third-person singular present): forces
Verb (Present Participle): forcing
Verb (Past Simple): forced
Verb (Past Participle): forced
Adjective: forceful (derived from force, meaning full of force)
Adverb: forcefully (derived from forceful)
Adjective: forced (past participle used as an adjective)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A push or pull that causes an object to accelerate, deform, or change its state of motion. In physics, it is a vector quantity having both magnitude and direction.
Synonyms: power, energy, strength, pressure, thrust, impetus
Antonyms: weakness, impotence, inertia, resistance (in certain contexts)
Definition: Coercion or compulsion; power used to make someone do something against their will, often involving physical or moral pressure.
Synonyms: compulsion, duress, coercion, pressure, constraint, violence
Antonyms: consent, persuasion, agreement, free will, choice
Definition: A group of people organized for a particular purpose, especially military or security operations.
Synonyms: army, military, police, contingent, unit, squad, corps
Antonyms: individuals, civilians (in contrast to military/police)
Definition: The inherent strength, impact, or effectiveness of something, such as an argument, an idea, or a natural phenomenon.
Synonyms: impact, power, potency, vigor, intensity, efficacy
Antonyms: weakness, feebleness, ineffectiveness, insignificance
Verb
Definition: To make someone do something unwillingly through coercion, pressure, or strength.
Synonyms: compel, coerce, oblige, pressure, compel, make, constrain
Antonyms: persuade, convince, allow, permit, encourage, entice
Definition: To break open or through something using physical strength or effort.
Synonyms: break, burst, pry, wrench, blast, crack open
Antonyms: close, secure, seal, repair
Definition: To produce or achieve something with effort or difficulty, often implying artificiality or unnaturalness.
Synonyms: extract, elicit, wring, contrive, conjure up, impose
Antonyms: allow, let, facilitate, ease, simplify
Definition: To accelerate the growth, development, or occurrence of something, often by artificial means.
Synonyms: hasten, accelerate, expedite, stimulate, boost, push
Antonyms: hinder, delay, impede, slow, retard
Examples of Use
Books:
"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." This famous quote from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (May 1999) refers to "the Force" as a mystical energy field in the fictional universe.
"A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open." This quote, often attributed to Frank Zappa (though its exact origin is debated), encapsulates the idea of resisting external force on one's thinking (from The Real Frank Zappa Book, October 1989).
Newspapers:
"Police have been deployed in force to manage crowds during the annual festival." (The Standard, Kenya, June 2024)
"The government announced new measures to force down inflation and stabilize the economy." (The Wall Street Journal, May 2024)
Online Publications:
"Scientists are studying the gravitational force exerted by black holes." (NASA.gov, March 2024)
"Social media influencers often force trends into the mainstream with their massive reach." (Forbes.com, April 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In Dune: Part Two (March 2024), characters discuss the "Bene Gesserit," a powerful sisterhood that can exert immense political and social force through their influence and abilities.
Television: On the show Ted Lasso, Ted often tries to use positive reinforcement rather than force to motivate his football team. (Apple TV+, 2020-2023)
Video Games: In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (April 2023), the protagonist frequently uses the mystical "Force" to combat enemies and navigate environments.
Music: The song "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel includes the lyric, "For the sound of silence." This refers to a powerful, unspoken force or truth. (Released on the album Sounds of Silence, January 1966)
General Public Discourse:
"We need to force a change in policy if we want to see real progress on climate change." (Heard in a climate activism protest, February 2024)
"The winds are so strong today, they are a powerful force against anyone trying to walk outside." (Casual conversation, July 2024)
10 Quotes Using Force
May the Force be with you." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, May 1977)
The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, May 1977)
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." (Albert Einstein, widely attributed)
Knowledge is not force, it is light." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Flight to Arras, 1942)
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." (Martin Luther King Jr., widely attributed)
Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity." (Yehuda Berg, The Power of Kabbalah, 2001)
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier." (Colin Powell, widely attributed)
Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical." (Blaise Pascal, Pensées, 1670)
Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man." (Mahatma Gandhi, widely attributed)
Our patience will achieve more than our force." (Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, 1790)
Etymology
The word "force" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back through several languages.
It ultimately comes from the Latin word "fortis," which meant "strong" or "brave." Think of words like "fortitude" (strength of mind) or "fortress" (a strong defensive place) – they all share this same Latin ancestor.
From "fortis," we get the Old French word "force" (pronounced something like "for-suh"). In Old French, this word already had meanings related to:
Strength or power: Like the physical strength to lift something heavy.
Violence or compulsion: Making someone do something unwillingly.
A powerful group of people: Like an army or a military contingent.
The first known use of "force" in English appeared around the late 13th century. When it entered English, it carried over these meanings from Old French. So, from its very beginning in English, "force" has been associated with:
Physical power or strength: For example, someone might use "force" to open a stuck door.
Compulsion or coercion: Like when a ruler might "force" their subjects to pay taxes.
Over time, the word's meaning expanded and diversified to include the various senses we use today, from the fundamental physical concept in science (like gravitational force) to the emotional or intellectual impact something can have (like the "force" of an argument). But at its core, it has always been about power, strength, or influence.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Force
By force: Through coercion or physical power.
Force of habit: An action done automatically due to routine.
Force majeure: An irresistible external force; an act of God.
In force: In effect, valid; or in large numbers.
To force someone's hand: To compel someone to act sooner or differently than they intended.
To force the issue: To bring a matter to a head; to insist on a decision.
To force a smile/laugh: To produce a smile or laugh that is not genuine.
The full force of the law: The maximum extent of legal penalties.
To join forces: To combine efforts with others.
Moral force: The power of ethical principles or public opinion.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of force from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
