{
    "term": "force",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "violent physical action used to obtain or achieve something",
            "sensetop": "by force",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The release of the hostages could not be achieved without the **use of force**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If persuasion doesn't work, they **use force**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government has relied on **brute force** to respond to public discontent."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The rioters were taken away by force.",
                    "contextForm": "by force"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The empire was held together by **military force**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "plans to seize power **by force of arms** *(= by military force)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The regulations allow the use of force if necessary."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The country's attempts to meet force with force led to the outbreak of war."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Police were accused of using excessive force."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The ultimatum contained the threat of military force."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We will achieve much more by persuasion than by brute force."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["considerable", "great", "terrible"],
                "verb + force": ["employ", "resort to", "use"],
                "preposition": ["by force"],
                "phrases": [
                    "catch the full force of something",
                    "feel the full force of something",
                    "take the full force of something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "physical strength, especially as shown when something hits something else",
            "sensetop": "with force",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the force of the explosion/impact"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The shopping centre took the **full force** of the blast."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You have to **apply** some **force** to move the lever."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She hits the ball with amazing force for someone so small.",
                    "contextForm": "with force"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He staggered backwards from the force of the blow."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The force of the explosion hurled bodies into the air."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The waves were breaking against the rocks with great force."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A thick wall shielded us from the force of the wind."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Physics and chemistry"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["considerable", "great", "terrible"],
                "verb + force": ["employ", "resort to", "use"],
                "preposition": ["by force"],
                "phrases": [
                    "catch the full force of something",
                    "feel the full force of something",
                    "take the full force of something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "the strong effect or influence of something",
            "sensetop": "by force of somethingwith force",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They realized the force of her argument."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a leader who inspired others with the force of his personality"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He controlled himself by sheer force of will.",
                    "contextForm": "by force of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Grant drove the point home with considerable force.",
                    "contextForm": "with force"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She spoke with force and deliberation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I felt the full force of her criticism."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She used her sheer force of personality to keep the family together."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Suddenly it came home to me with tremendous force that this was my last chance."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The emotional force of the songs derives from their universal themes."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["considerable", "great", "terrible"],
                "verb + force": ["employ", "resort to", "use"],
                "preposition": ["by force"],
                "phrases": [
                    "catch the full force of something",
                    "feel the full force of something",
                    "take the full force of something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a person or thing that has a lot of power or influence",
            "sensetop": "a force for something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the **forces of good/evil**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They believe that **market forces** should determine prices."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Ron is **the driving force** *(= the person who has the most influence)* behind the project."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She's **a force to be reckoned with** *(= a person who has a lot of power and influence and should therefore be treated seriously)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a force for good/evil",
                    "contextForm": "a force for something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The expansion of higher education should be a powerful **force for change**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was finally defeated by forces beyond his control."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Social media has become a major force in political campaigns."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The idea of the West remains a powerful force in American culture."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was seen as a potentially disruptive force within the party."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The play portrays a marriage torn apart by external forces."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Though officially retired, she remains the creative force behind the design business."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many social and economic forces contributed to this trend."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the combined forces of MI5 and Scotland Yard"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["considerable", "formidable", "great"],
                "verb + force": ["remain", "balance", "fight"],
                "preposition": ["force behind", "force for"],
                "phrases": [
                    "a balance of forces",
                    "a force to be reckoned with",
                    "the forces of nature"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "the authority of something",
            "sensetop": "the force of something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The court ruled that these standards have force in English law."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The contract was not signed and has no binding force."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These guidelines do not have **the force of law**.",
                    "contextForm": "the force of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The culprits must expect to face **the full force of the law**."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["binding", "legal", "statutory"],
                "verb + force": ["come into", "bring something into"],
                "preposition": ["in force"],
                "phrases": ["the force of law"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "a group of people who have been organized for a particular purpose",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a member of the **sales force**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The sales force is/are working extra hard."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has attracted a force of passionate young individuals who are committed to the organization."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["large", "small", "token"],
                "verb + force": ["assemble", "create", "form"],
                "force + verb": ["control something", "operate"],
                "preposition": ["in a/​the force"],
                "phrases": ["a member of a force", "the withdrawal of a force"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "a trained and organized group of police, soldiers or other military personnel",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**Rebel forces** now control most of the capital."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Government forces** captured the rebel positions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "coalition/allied forces"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The peacekeeping force has/have now been dispatched."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He called on the local population to rise up against the occupying forces."
                },
                {
                    "text": "American **special forces** pride themselves on their elite status."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government **deployed** military **forces** to attack terrorist strongholds."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The British were ordered to **withdraw their forces** immediately."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Allied ground forces would move in rapidly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Allied forces were able to advance to the capital."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a token force of only 300 men"
                },
                {
                    "text": "These elite forces are the best equipped and trained in the world."
                },
                {
                    "text": "UN forces operating in the region"
                },
                {
                    "text": "More troops have been called in to support the coalition forces there."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a UN deadline for the withdrawal of forces"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A large expeditionary force was assembled."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["War and conflict"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["large", "small", "token"],
                "verb + force": ["assemble", "create", "form"],
                "force + verb": ["control something", "operate"],
                "preposition": ["in a/​the force"],
                "phrases": ["a member of a force", "the withdrawal of a force"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "the army, navy and air force",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "life in the forces"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Daisy intends to join the forces when she leaves school this summer."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["large", "small", "token"],
                "verb + force": ["assemble", "create", "form"],
                "force + verb": ["control something", "operate"],
                "preposition": ["in a/​the force"],
                "phrases": ["a member of a force", "the withdrawal of a force"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 9,
            "definition": "the weapons and soldiers that an army, etc. has, considered as things that may be used",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "strategic nuclear forces"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government is negotiating cuts to nuclear forces."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["War and conflict"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 10,
            "definition": "the police force",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He joined the force twenty years ago."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Law and justice"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["large", "small", "token"],
                "verb + force": ["assemble", "create", "form"],
                "force + verb": ["control something", "operate"],
                "preposition": ["in a/​the force"],
                "phrases": ["a member of a force", "the withdrawal of a force"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 11,
            "definition": "an effect that causes things to move in a particular way",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The moon **exerts a force** on the earth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the force of gravity"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the sun's magnetic force"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Because of the increased mass, more force is needed to accelerate the object."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Deep internal forces cause movements of the earth's crust."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction."
                },
                {
                    "text": "lateral forces acting on the car's suspension"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the attractive and repulsive forces between individual particles"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["powerful", "strong", "weak"],
                "verb + force": ["apply", "exert", "generate"],
                "force + verb": ["act on something", "balance something"],
                "force + noun": ["field"],
                "preposition": ["force between"],
                "phrases": ["a balance of forces", "the force of gravity"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 12,
            "definition": "a unit for measuring the strength of the wind on the Beaufort scale",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a force 9 gale"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **gale force** wind"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The wind was increasing to gale force."
                },
                {
                    "text": "hurricane-force winds"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Weather"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to cause a law, rule, etc. to start being used",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They are hoping to bring the new legislation into force before the end of the year."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Permission and obligation"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to start being used",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "When do the new regulations come into force?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new law comes into force as from midnight tomorrow."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if you do something from or out of force of habit, you do it without thinking about it and in a particular way because you have always done it that way in the past",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It's force of habit that gets me out of bed at 6.15 each morning."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a person with a very strong personality who is full of energy, very determined and difficult for others to resist",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Gerard is a force of nature, continually pursuing his target when everyone else is ready to give up."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "the power of the wind, rain, etc., especially when it causes damage or harm",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They were fighting a losing battle against the forces of nature."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "in large numbers",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Protesters turned out in force."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "being used",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The new regulations are now in force."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Several archaic laws are still in force."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some laws relating to obsolete customs are still in force."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to work together in order to achieve a shared aim",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The two firms joined forces to win the contract."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The two companies have joined forces to form a new consortium."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a person or group that no longer has any power or influence",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The opposition party is now a spent political force."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/fɔːs/",
                "audio": "fo/force/force__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/fɔːrs/",
                "audio": "fo/force/force__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French force (noun), forcer (verb), based on Latin fortis ‘strong’."
}