force

verb [T] (GIVE NO CHOICE)

/fɔːs/

/fɔːrs/

Definition

B2 to make something happen or make someone do something difficult, unpleasant, or unusual, especially by threatening or not offering the possibility of choice: [+ to infinitive] I really have to force myself to be pleasant to him. [+ to infinitive] You can't force her to make a decision. Hospitals are being forced to close departments because of lack of money. You could tell he was having to force back the tears (= stop himself from crying). I didn't actually want any more dessert, but Julia forced it on me (= made me accept it). I couldn't stay at their flat - I'd feel as if I was forcing myself on them (= making them allow me to stay). You never tell me how you're feeling - I have to force it out of you (= make you tell me)!Causing somebody to actUrging and persuading › specialized If plants or vegetables are forced, they are made to grow faster by artificially controlling growing conditions such as the amount of heat and light: forced strawberriesGardening - general words force a laugh/smile › to manage, with difficulty, to laugh or smile: I managed to force a smile as they were leaving.Laughing and smiling force an/the issue › to take action to make certain that an urgent problem or matter is dealt with now: If the management wouldn't listen to their demands, they would have to force the issue by striking.Causing somebody to actUrging and persuading

(Definition of force verb (GIVE NO CHOICE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)