compel

IPA/kəmˈpel/
KK[kəmpˈɛl]IPA/kəmˈpel/

compel — 動詞

  • compelpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • compelshe / she / it
  • compelledpast simple
  • compelling-ing form

1. to use your authority, the law, or a situation to make someone do something even

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

強迫；迫使

利用權威或情況強制他人做某事

to use your authority, the law, or a situation to make someone do something even when they do not want to do it.

例句

The law compels all drivers to wear seat belts while driving.

法律強迫所有駕駛人開車時要繫上安全帶。

compel + object + to-infinitive (legal requirement)

Heavy rain compelled the climbers to abandon their attempt on the summit.

大雨迫使登山者放棄攻頂的嘗試。

compel + object + to-infinitive (external circumstance)

常見搭配
  • compel someone to do something
  • be compelled to (by law / by circumstances)
  • compel obedience
  • compel compliance
同義詞
  • force

    more general and can include physical strength; less formal than compel.

  • oblige

    slightly gentler than compel, often suggesting a sense of duty rather than pressure.

  • coerce

    stronger than compel, implying threat or violence is involved.

反義詞
  • allow

    to let someone do what they choose.

  • permit

    to give official permission for something.

文法句型

compel + object + to-infinitive

compel + object

be compelled to + verb

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive voice: 'be compelled to do something'. The subject is often a law, rule, person in authority, or a difficult situation. Common in formal, legal, and academic writing.

常見錯誤

The manager compelled him signing the contract.
The manager compelled him to sign the contract.
compel requires a to-infinitive after the object, not a gerund.
The new rules compelled to cancel the event.
The new rules compelled the organisers to cancel the event.
compel always needs an object; you must say who or what is being forced.

2. to make a particular feeling, reaction, or response arise naturally in people, t

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

激起；引發

引發強烈的感受或反應

to make a particular feeling, reaction, or response arise naturally in people, typically because of someone's actions, character, or a work of art.

例句

Her courage in the face of danger compels our deepest admiration.

她在危險面前的勇氣激起我們最深的敬佩。

compel + abstract noun (admiration)

The documentary compels viewers to think differently about plastic waste.

這部紀錄片促使觀眾以不同的角度思考塑膠廢棄物問題。

compel + object + to-infinitive (intellectual reaction)

常見搭配
  • compel admiration
  • compel respect
  • compel attention
  • compel interest
同義詞
  • evoke

    more neutral and common; does not carry the same sense of irresistible force.

  • command

    stronger than compel; used in fixed phrases like 'command respect' or 'command attention'.

  • elicit

    more formal, often used for responses or reactions to specific actions.

反義詞
  • discourage

    to make someone less willing to do something or feel something.

  • suppress

    to stop a feeling or reaction from being shown.

文法句型

compel + abstract noun

compel + object + to-infinitive

用法筆記

The object is almost always an abstract noun such as admiration, respect, attention, or interest, or a person followed by a to-infinitive. Rare in everyday conversation; more typical of written reviews, literary criticism, and formal speeches.

常見錯誤

The music compelled me.
The music compelled my attention.
In this sense, compel usually needs an explicit abstract noun to say what feeling is produced.