Forced

/fɔːrst/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To make someone do something they don't want to do.

/fɔːrst/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To compel or oblige someone to do something.

The rain forced us to cancel the picnic.

💡 Simply: Imagine your parents saying 'no' to something you want, and then telling you to do something else instead. That's a bit like being 'forced' – you have to do something even if you don't want to. Like, 'I was forced to eat my broccoli!'

👶 For kids: When you make someone do something, even if they don't want to.

More Examples

2

He was forced to apologize for his rude behavior.

3

The situation forced her to make a difficult decision.

How It's Used

Legal

"The law forced the company to comply with environmental regulations."

Everyday conversation

"She was forced to resign from her job."

2

Done against someone's will or in an unnatural way; produced or done by physical or psychological pressure.

/fɔːrst/

adjectiveneutralmedium
Quality

Produced or done by force.

The forced entry revealed a burglary.

💡 Simply: Imagine something that's happening because someone is pushing it to happen, not because it's natural or wanted. Like a forced smile - you're smiling, but you don't feel happy.

👶 For kids: When something happens because someone makes it happen, even if it's not natural.

More Examples

2

The forced conversation made him uncomfortable.

3

A forced landing was necessary after the engine failure.

How It's Used

Military

"The forced march exhausted the soldiers."

General

"A forced smile can hide many emotions."

Tip:Think of something that feels unnatural, like a forced smile, which means the smile is not genuine.

Idioms & expressions

force something down someone's throat

To try to make someone accept something, especially an idea or belief, even if they don't want to.

"The teacher tried to force his own political views down the students' throats."

force of habit

Something you do automatically because you've done it so often.

"He always checked the lock, just out of force of habit."

From Middle English *forcen*, from Old French *forcier* (“to force, compel”), from *force* (“strength, power”).

Historically used in military contexts to describe compelled movements and actions, but also in legal and social contexts to describe compulsion.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong wind (force) pushing a sail. The sail is forced to move.

Word Origin

LanguageOld French
Original meaning

"strength, power"

forced entryforced laborforced toforced smileforced march

Common misspellings

forstforcd

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written