force
force — 動詞
- forcepresent simple I / you / we / they
- forces3rd person singular
- forcing-ing form
- forcedpast simple
1. to cause a person to act against their own wishes, typically by threatening them
強迫;逼迫
以威脅或取消選項迫使某人做不願做的事
to cause a person to act against their own wishes, typically by threatening them or removing every other option until they have no acceptable alternative.
The robbers forced the bank manager to open the safe at gunpoint.
搶匪用槍強迫銀行經理打開保險箱。
force + object + to-infinitive for making someone act
Heavy rain forced the organizers to cancel the outdoor concert.
大雨迫使主辦單位取消了戶外音樂會。
Adaeze felt that her parents were forcing her to study medicine instead of art.
Adaeze 覺得父母在強迫她讀醫科,而不是藝術。
A sudden drop in sales forced the company to let go of twenty workers.
銷售額突然下滑,迫使公司裁掉二十名員工。
The teacher never forces her students to speak before they feel ready.
那位老師從不強迫學生在還沒準備好之前開口。
文法句型
force + someone + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Commonly used in the pattern 'force + person + to-infinitive.' The subject can be a person, an event, or a situation — not just a person with power.
常見錯誤
2. to make plants or vegetables grow faster or earlier in the season by controlling
催育;催生
控制溫度光線使植物提早生長
to make plants or vegetables grow faster or earlier in the season by controlling temperature, light, or other growing conditions artificially.
The gardener forced the tulips to bloom two weeks early for the flower show.
園丁為了花展,催生鬱金香,讓它們提早兩週開花。
usually passive: forced for early growth
Tomatoes can be forced in a warm glasshouse during the cold winter months.
在溫暖的溫室裡,冬季也能催生番茄。
Some farmers force strawberries by keeping the plants in heated tunnels.
有些農民將草莓放在加熱隧道中來催生。
The nursery forced daffodils so they would be ready for the New Year market.
那家苗圃催生水仙花,以便趕上新年市場。
- hasten
broader — can apply to any process, not just plants
- accelerate growth
descriptive phrase, less technical
文法句型
be forced (in [conditions])
用法筆記
Almost always in the passive voice ('are forced,' 'were forced'). The subject is a type of plant, and the agent is a gardener or grower.
3. to produce a smile, laugh, or other expression with effort, when you do not genu
勉強
勉強做出笑容或笑聲
to produce a smile, laugh, or other expression with effort, when you do not genuinely feel happy or amused.
Darius forced a smile when he heard his flight was delayed again.
Darius 得知航班又延誤時,勉強擠出一個笑容。
force + smile / laugh / grin / chuckle
The bad jokes made the audience force a weak laugh out of politeness.
那些笑話不好笑,觀眾出於禮貌勉強笑了一下。
Lakshmi forced a cheerful grin even though her knee was hurting badly.
Lakshmi 的膝蓋痛得厲害,但她還是勉強露出開心的笑容。
Hassan forced a chuckle to hide how nervous he felt before the speech.
Hassan 勉強笑了一聲,掩飾自己上台前有多緊張。
- genuinely smile
to smile without effort
文法句型
force + a smile / a laugh / a grin
用法筆記
The object is almost always a positive facial expression (smile, laugh, grin, chuckle) — never negative ones like a frown or cry.
4. to take action that makes an urgent problem, question, or disagreement reach a p
逼使處理
迫使問題或爭議必須立即處理
to take action that makes an urgent problem, question, or disagreement reach a point where it must be dealt with or decided immediately.
The housing shortage forced the issue when three families were left without a home.
住房短缺讓問題浮上檯面,三戶家庭最終無家可歸。
collocation: force the issue
Christopher decided to force a decision by giving his boss a deadline of Friday.
Christopher 決定給主管一個期限,逼他做出決定。
Rising costs forced the matter, so the committee had to vote right away.
成本不斷上升使問題浮上檯面,委員會不得不立刻投票。
Rather than wait any longer, the council forced the question by calling an emergency meeting.
委員會不再乾等,而是召開緊急會議逼使處理這個問題。
- bring to a head
idiom, means the same but more vivid
- precipitate
formal, means to cause something to happen suddenly or sooner
文法句型
force + the issue / the matter / a decision
用法筆記
The object is usually a noun referring to a problem or decision ('the issue,' 'the question,' 'the matter,' 'a vote'). Not used with a personal object in this sense.
常見錯誤
5. to push, pull, or shift an object using bodily power, particularly when the obje
用力推
用力使物體移動到某位置
to push, pull, or shift an object using bodily power, particularly when the object is heavy, stuck, or hard to move.
Heloísa forced the heavy wooden door open with her shoulder.
Heloísa 用肩膀用力推開那扇厚重的木門。
force + object + open / closed / through
The movers forced the large sofa through the narrow apartment doorway.
搬家工人使勁把那張大沙發推過窄窄的公寓門口。
Élise forced the window shut against the strong wind blowing outside.
Élise 用力把窗戶關上,抵擋外面的強風。
Linh forced the old key into the rusty lock and turned it carefully.
Linh 把舊鑰匙用力插進生鏽的鎖裡,慢慢轉動。
- slide
to move smoothly without effort
文法句型
force + object + open / closed / shut / through
用法筆記
Requires a complement — an adjective ('open,' 'closed,' 'shut') or a prepositional phrase ('through the gap,' 'into the hole') — to describe the result of the effort.
6. to damage or defeat the locking mechanism of a door, gate, or window so that a p
撬開;破門
破壞門窗鎖以進入某處
to damage or defeat the locking mechanism of a door, gate, or window so that a person can enter a building, typically in an emergency or during a crime.
The firefighters forced the apartment door when they heard cries for help.
消防隊員聽到求救聲,撬開了公寓大門。
force + door / window / lock
Thieves forced the lock on the back gate sometime during the night.
小偷在夜間撬開了後門的鎖。
The police officer forced the window open to rescue the child trapped inside.
警察撬開窗戶,救出了被困在裡面的小孩。
Somebody had forced the garage door and stolen the bicycle that was inside.
有人撬開了車庫門,偷走了放在裡面的腳踏車。
- break open
more specific about the breaking action
- break into
phrasal verb, emphasises the entry
- pry open
using a tool rather than damaging the lock directly
- lock
to secure a door or window
- open gently
to open without damage
文法句型
force + a door / window / lock
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5 (PRY OPEN): sense 5 focuses on moving an object through effort; sense 6 focuses on breaking or damaging a barrier to enter. Sense 6 always implies entry into a space.
force — 名詞
- forcesingular
- forcesplural
1. the use of bodily power or violent action, especially to make someone or somethi
武力;暴力
以身體力量或暴力強迫他人
the use of bodily power or violent action, especially to make someone or something do what you want against their will.
The police stated that no force was used during the arrest.
警方表示,逮捕過程中並未使用武力。
passive: was used
Dewi managed to open the jammed kitchen drawer by force.
Dewi 用力拉開了卡住的廚房抽屜。
collocation: by force
Christopher used physical force to break the padlock with a heavy rock.
Christopher 用蠻力拿大石頭砸開了掛鎖。
The army used overwhelming force to end the rebellion in the capital.
軍方在首都使用了壓倒性的武力來平定叛亂。
Hao believes that we should solve problems through discussion, never through force.
Hao 認為我們應該透過討論解決問題,絕不使用暴力。
- gentleness
the opposite of using physical force or violence
用法筆記
Frequently appears in legal or procedural contexts (e.g. "use of force", "by force") to describe coercion or violent means.
常見錯誤
2. used in the expression "in force" to mean a group of people arriving or gatherin
大批地
形容一群人大量聚集到來
used in the expression "in force" to mean a group of people arriving or gathering in very large numbers.
Antonia's fans turned out in force for her first concert in Tokyo.
Antonia 的粉絲大批湧入東京參加她的首場演唱會。
idiom: turn out in force
Security guards were out in force at the airport during the New Year holiday.
新年假期期間,機場到處都有大量保全人員駐守。
idiom: be out in force
The media arrived in force outside the courthouse when the verdict was announced.
判決宣布時,大批媒體聚集在法院外。
Local volunteers came out in force to help clean up the park after the storm.
風暴過後,當地志工大量出動協助清理公園。
- in great numbers
more literal and less idiomatic than 'in force'
- en masse
formal French borrowing, meaning 'as a group'
- in small numbers
the opposite of arriving in large numbers
文法句型
in force
用法筆記
Used with verbs of appearing or gathering such as 'turn out', 'come out', 'be out', 'arrive'. Only appears in the fixed phrase 'in force' — you cannot say 'in forces' or 'in a force' with this meaning.
常見錯誤
3. in physics, a push or pull on an object that makes it move, stop moving, or chan
力
物理學中改變物體運動狀態的作用
in physics, a push or pull on an object that makes it move, stop moving, or change direction.
Liam dropped a ball from different heights onto a scale to measure the force of each impact.
Liam 從不同高度把球丟到磅秤上,測量每次掉落撞擊的力量。
measuring force of impact in a physics experiment
Gravitational force keeps the Moon moving around the Earth in its orbit.
重力使月球沿著軌道繞地球運行。
collocation: gravitational force
Nikhil measured the force required to pull the heavy box across the floor.
Nikhil 測量了將重箱拉過地板所需的力量。
When you hit a ball with a bat, the force of the hit sends the ball flying.
用球棒擊球時,打擊的力量會讓球飛出去。
Yuki calculated the force needed to lift a ten-kilogram weight straight up off the ground.
Yuki 計算了將十公斤重的東西直接從地面舉起所需的力量。
用法筆記
Can be both countable (different types of force) and uncountable (force as a general concept). Subject is typically an object, a scientific instrument, or a physical phenomenon.
常見錯誤
4. used in the expression "join forces" to mean two or more people, groups, or comp
聯手;合作
與他人合作以達成共同目標
used in the expression "join forces" to mean two or more people, groups, or companies work together for a shared purpose.
The two charities joined forces to raise money for the earthquake survivors.
兩家慈善機構聯手為地震災民募款。
pattern: join forces to [infinitive]
Élise and her business partner joined forces to open a bakery in the old market square.
Élise 和她的合夥人聯手在老市場廣場開了一家麵包店。
Several local schools joined forces with a university to create a science programme for teenagers.
幾所當地學校與一所大學合作,為青少年設計了科學課程。
The two tech companies joined forces to develop a new type of battery for electric cars.
兩家科技公司聯手開發一種電動車用的新型電池。
- team up
informal; more casual than 'join forces'
- collaborate
formal; focuses on working together on a project
- unite
emphasises coming together as one group
- go it alone
informal; to work without help from others
文法句型
join forces with [sb/sth]
join forces to [infinitive]
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the fixed phrase 'join forces'. The verb 'join' changes tense but 'forces' remains plural. Cannot be used as 'join a force' or 'joint forces'.
常見錯誤
5. a phenomenon, system, or organisation that has the power to shape events, behavi
影響力
具有強大影響力的人或事物
a phenomenon, system, or organisation that has the power to shape events, behaviour, or the direction of developments in a lasting or structural way.
Karim was a powerful force for change in his local community.
Karim 是當地社區推動改變的重要力量。
collocation: a force for [change/good]
Social media has become a major force in shaping young people's opinions.
社群媒體已成為塑造年輕人意見的主要力量。
collocation: a [adjective] force in [noun]
The organisation is a driving force behind the environmental movement in Asia.
該組織是亞洲環保運動背後的推手。
The rise of online shopping was a market force that changed how small shops operated.
網路購物的興起是一種市場力量,改變了小商店的經營方式。
Linh has always been a positive force in the lives of her younger students.
Linh 一直是她年輕學生生活中的一股正能量。
用法筆記
Commonly preceded by an adjective (e.g. 'driving force', 'positive force', 'powerful force') and followed by 'for' or 'in' to indicate the area of influence. Can refer to both people and abstract phenomena.
6. a label for a person or organisation whose great power and influence make it imp
不容忽視
非常強大且有影響力,無法被忽略
a label for a person or organisation whose great power and influence make it impossible to disregard them.
After winning three tournaments in a row, Eri became a force to be reckoned with.
連續贏得三場比賽後,Eri 成了一股不容忽視的力量。
fixed expression: a force to be reckoned with
The small tech company is now a force to be reckoned with in the global software market.
那家小型科技公司如今在全球軟體市場上已是不容忽視的力量。
Amira proved she was a force to be reckoned with when she won the national debate championship.
Amira 贏得全國辯論冠軍後,證明了自己是不容忽視的力量。
The growing environmental movement has become a force to be reckoned with in politics.
日益壯大的環保運動在政治領域已成為不容忽視的力量。
- major player
informal; describes an important participant in a field
- heavyweight
informal; someone with great power or influence
文法句型
a force to be reckoned with
用法筆記
Always used with the indefinite article 'a' followed by 'force to be reckoned with'. Often follows 'become' or 'prove to be'. Cannot be shortened to 'a force to reckon with' — the passive form 'to be reckoned with' is fixed.
常見錯誤
7. the powerful action of natural phenomena such as wind, fire, or flowing water, w
自然力量
自然界無法抗拒的強大作用力
the powerful action of natural phenomena such as wind, fire, or flowing water, which humans cannot fully control
The force of the wind blew the roof off several houses during the storm.
風的力量在暴風雨中把好幾棟房子的屋頂吹走了。
collocation: force of the wind
Adaeze watched the river's force carve a deeper channel through the rocks.
Adaeze 看著河流的力量在岩石間沖刷出一條更深的河道。
Firefighters struggled against the force of the flames spreading through the forest.
消防員奮力對抗穿過森林蔓延的火勢力量。
The force of the ocean waves damaged the harbour wall beyond repair.
海浪的力量損壞了港口防波堤,已無法修復。
No one could stand against the force of the hurricane that hit the coast.
沒有人能抵擋侵襲海岸的颶風力量。
用法筆記
Often used with 'the force of' followed by a specific natural element (wind, water, fire, waves, storm).
8. a person whose strong will, active drive, and determination enable them to shape
有影響力的人
個性強、精力充沛、能影響他人的人
a person whose strong will, active drive, and determination enable them to shape events and get things done through personal effort
Christopher has become a major force in local politics since he moved to the city.
Christopher 搬到這個城市後,已成為地方政壇一股重要力量。
pattern: a [adjective] force in [area]
The principal is a real force who turned the failing school around in two years.
那位校長是一股真正的力量,用兩年時間就把這所落後的學校整頓好了。
Élise is a creative force whose ideas have changed how the company designs new products.
Élise 是一股創意力量,她的想法改變了公司設計新產品的方式。
The community sees Linh as a positive force behind the recent environmental campaigns.
社區認為 Linh 是近期環保運動背後的一股正面力量。
Old Mr. Kim was the driving force behind the town's annual arts festival for decades.
老金先生幾十年來一直是鎮上年度藝術節的推動力量。
- influential figure
less intense — does not convey the same level of personal energy and drive
- powerhouse
more informal and suggests raw productive energy
- driver
focuses on the pushing-forward aspect, often used in 'driving force' collocation
用法筆記
Frequently used with adjectives like 'major', 'real', 'creative', 'positive', 'driving' before 'force'. Often followed by 'in' + field or 'behind' + achievement.
常見錯誤
9. behaviour that is repeated automatically and without conscious thought because i
習慣的力量
因長期重複而自動做出的行為
behaviour that is repeated automatically and without conscious thought because it has been performed the same way very many times
After retiring, Hassan still woke up at 5 a.m. out of pure force of habit.
Hassan 退休後仍因習慣的力量在凌晨五點醒來。
preposition: out of force of habit
I tried a different route, but force of habit led me to my usual street.
我試著走不同的路回家,但習慣的力量讓我拐回原來那條街。
Talia reached for a second coffee out of force of habit, though not tired.
Talia 伸手去拿第二杯咖啡,純粹是習慣使然,其實不累。
By force of habit, Camila signed the old email address she had changed months earlier.
Camila 習慣性地簽了舊的電子郵件地址,明明幾個月前就換了。
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrases 'out of force of habit' or 'by force of habit'. Cannot be modified — 'strong force of habit' is not idiomatic.
10. an organised body of individuals who have been trained to perform a specific kin
團隊;隊伍
為特定目的組織受訓的一群人
an organised body of individuals who have been trained to perform a specific kind of job or function
The company plans to expand its sales force by hiring twenty new representatives.
該公司計劃再招募二十名新業務代表,以擴充銷售團隊。
pattern: [purpose] + force — sales force, labour force, police force
Hao joined the local police force right after finishing his university degree.
Hao 大學畢業後就加入了當地的警察隊伍。
compound: police force
The labour force in the region has grown rapidly as new factories open each year.
隨著新工廠每年開工,該地區的勞動力隊伍迅速擴大。
A small volunteer force helped clean up the park after the community festival.
一支小型志工團隊在社區活動後幫忙清理了公園。
Kwame works as part of the disaster relief force that responds to emergencies worldwide.
Kwame 是國際災難救援團隊的一員,負責應對全球各地的緊急狀況。
用法筆記
Often used in compound nouns where a purpose word precedes 'force' (sales force, labour force, police force, task force). The force word typically cannot stand alone for this sense — 'a force of sales' sounds unnatural.
常見錯誤
11. the entire set of a nation's military units that defend it on land, at sea, and
軍隊
一國的陸海空軍事組織
the entire set of a nation's military units that defend it on land, at sea, and in the air
The country's armed forces are among the most modern in the region.
該國的軍隊是該地區最現代化的部隊之一。
always plural: armed forces
Many young people in the town joined the armed forces after finishing high school.
鎮上許多年輕人高中畢業後就加入了軍隊。
verb collocation: join the armed forces
The armed forces work together with international allies during peacekeeping missions.
軍隊在維和任務中與國際盟友共同合作。
Dewi's father served in the armed forces for over twenty years before retiring.
Dewi 的父親在軍隊服役超過二十年,才退休。
The president thanked the armed forces for their work during the natural disaster.
總統感謝軍隊在天然災害期間所做的工作。
- military
broader term — can also refer to military culture, not just the organisation
- defence forces
more formal, often used in official government contexts
- troops
specifically refers to soldiers on the ground, not the whole organisation
用法筆記
Always takes a plural verb and definite article — 'the armed forces are…', not 'the armed force is…'. Distinct from sense 10 in that it always refers to military branches collectively, not any organised work group.
常見錯誤
12. (of a law, rule, agreement, or system) currently active and being applied or fol
生效中
法規、規則、系統正在施行且有效
(of a law, rule, agreement, or system) currently active and being applied or followed, usually after an official start date
The new data protection law has been in force since the beginning of this year.
新的資料保護法從今年年初起已生效。
pattern: [law/rule] + be in force
Safety regulations are in force at all times inside the laboratory.
實驗室內的安全規範隨時都在生效中。
When the emergency order came into force, all flights were grounded immediately.
緊急命令生效後,所有航班立即停飛。
The old speed limits remain in force until the council votes on a new proposal.
舊的時速限制仍然有效,直到市議會就新提案進行表決。
The trade agreement between the two nations has been in force for nearly a decade.
這兩個國家之間的貿易協定已生效將近十年。
用法筆記
Used only in fixed prepositional phrases with 'in' or 'into' — 'in force' (existing and active) or 'come into force' (become active). The subject must be an official rule, law, regulation, or system, not a physical object or person.
13. in baseball, a situation where a batter's hit forces someone already on a base t
封殺
棒球中跑壘員被迫進壘而出局
in baseball, a situation where a batter's hit forces someone already on a base to start moving toward the next one, and the defensive team can end that runner's turn by stepping on the destination base with the ball ahead of them
Hao hit a ground ball and the shortstop stepped on second for a force out.
Hao 敲出滾地球,游擊手踩二壘完成封殺。
collocation: ground ball + force out
A force out at second base ended the inning for the visiting team.
一次二壘封殺結束了客隊的半局攻勢。
Ezra tried to reach the base before the throw arrived and avoid the force out.
Ezra 試圖趕在球送達前抵達壘包,以避免被封殺。
The second baseman caught the ball and touched the bag for an easy force out.
二壘手接球後踩上壘包,輕鬆完成封殺。
- force-out
hyphenated spelling of the same term, equally common in baseball writing