force
a powerful effect or influence
How often you will meet it
Rank 709 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 26,576 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.013% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- a powerful effect or influence the force of his eloquence easily persuaded them
- (physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity force equals mass times acceleration
- physical energy or intensity also: forcefulness, strength he hit with all the force he could musterit was destroyed by the strength of the gale
- group of people willing to obey orders also: personnel a public force is necessary to give security to the rights of citizens
- a unit that is part of some military service also: military unit, military force, military group he sent Caesar a force of six thousand men
- an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists) also: violence he may accomplish by craft in the long run what he cannot do by force and violence in the short one
force in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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It was the force of the magnet to the steel.
The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance · Hall, Sir Caine · Chapter 1
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It contained a newspaper cutting, which nothing but my desire to be truthful would force me to publish.
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1
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Not being able to recover them by main force, I went at once to the commissary of police.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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Sir Thomas Tresham had, as he proposed, left his wife and son at Exeter when the force marched away.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1
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There was force in the stern self-repression of his speech, in the curve of his lips, the clear lightning of his eyes.
The Betrayal · E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim · Chapter 1