force
noun
uk/fɔːs/ us [ C, usually singular ]
a person or thing with a lot of influence, power, or energy:
a dominant/major/powerful force The takeover will create a powerful new force in Britain's food retail industry.
commercial/competitive/economic forces Potent commercial forces are bringing the hydrogen economy along faster than anyone thought possible.
a force for change/good The movement of work to developing economies must be a force for good.
[ C ]
a group of people organized and trained for a particular purpose:
The company soon had a sales force distributed across Europe.
[ U ]
the influence or authority of something:
They made sure the minister felt the full force of business resentment at the government's new workplace laws.
It was not until the summer that the advertising campaign gained force.
These building codes do not have the force of law.
See also
driving force
labour force
market forces
sales force
task force
workforce
in force
if laws, rules, or systems are in force, they are being used:
The notice lists the import duties and taxes currently in force.
a force to be reckoned with
a powerful person or organization with a lot of influence:
The company is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with on the global telecom scene.
combine/join forces
to work with someone in order to achieve something you both want:
The two companies, one Dutch the other French, have just joined forces to exploit the European market for petfood.
come into/enter into force
when laws, rules, or systems come into force, they start being used:
The final stage of measures to improve access to work for disabled employees comes into force tomorrow.
force
verb [ T ]
uk/fɔːs/ usto make a person or an organization do something that they do not want to do:
force sb/sth to do sth The arrival of the new supermarket has forced local businesses to raise their wages to compete.
force sb/sth into sth Heavy law school debt frequently forces graduates into high-paying jobs at private firms, where intense deadlines and grinding hours are routine.
force sb/sth into doing sth Customers are being forced into banking by phone or over the internet.
to make something happen, especially something that people do not want to happen:
The economic slowdown has forced a second week of temporary closure.
The government threatened to force an agreement between banks and retailers for a new system.
force sb's hand
to make someone do something they do not want to do or do something sooner than they had intended:
The changing dynamics of the diamond business are beginning to force the company's hand.
Phrasal verbs
force sth down
force sth up
force sb out
force sth out (of sth)