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

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

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.

例句

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。

同義詞
  • compel

    more formal, often legal or moral pressure rather than physical threat

  • coerce

    implies threats or violence; stronger and more negative than 'force'

  • oblige

    lighter pressure, often social or legal obligation, not necessarily unwilling

反義詞
  • allow

    to let someone do what they want

  • persuade

    to convince someone willingly, without pressure

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

The rain forced them cancelling the game.
The rain forced them to cancel the game.
💡after 'force', use 'to-infinitive', not a gerund.

2. to make plants or vegetables grow faster or earlier in the season by controlling

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

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.

例句

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。

同義詞

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

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

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.

例句

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。

同義詞
  • fake

    more general and informal; can apply to any emotion or reaction

  • put on

    phrasal verb, suggests deliberate pretence

反義詞

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

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

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.

例句

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。

同義詞
反義詞
  • delay

    to put off dealing with a problem

  • avoid

    to stay away from addressing an issue

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

The manager forced the employee to the issue.
The manager forced the issue.
💡'force the issue' is a fixed expression; do not insert a person between 'force' and 'the issue.'

5. to push, pull, or shift an object using bodily power, particularly when the obje

5.動詞及物C2
釋義

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.

例句

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。

同義詞
  • shove

    more abrupt and less controlled; can be done without great effort

  • pry

    implies using a tool or leverage to open something

  • wedge

    to force something into a tight space

反義詞
  • 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

6.動詞及物B2
釋義

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.

例句

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。

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞

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