Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To cause something to be removed or expelled by applying physical pressure or effort: This is the core meaning, involving a direct physical action to remove something from a space or container.
   • To compel someone to leave a place, position, or property, often through legal or authoritative action: This meaning extends to non-physical force, such as legal, social, or economic pressure.
   • (In baseball) To cause a runner to be put out by a "force play": A specific sports term where a runner is compelled to advance and is put out by a defensive player holding the ball while touching the base.

Usage

• Verb (Physical Removal):
  • He used a plunger to force out the clog from the drain.
  • The dentist had to force out the deeply impacted tooth.
• Verb (Compelling Departure):
  • The new management forced out several senior executives.
  • The landlord sought to force out the non-paying tenant.
• Noun (Baseball):
  • The double play was completed with a force out at second base.

Advanced Usage

• "To force someone out of office": To apply pressure (e.g., scandal, poor performance, internal politics) that makes it impossible for someone to remain in their position.
  • The board of directors eventually forced the CEO out of office.
• "To force out a confession": To use intense interrogation or pressure to extract information.
  • The investigators were accused of trying to force out a false confession.

Variants and Related Words

• Force-out (noun, hyphenated): An alternative spelling for the baseball term.
  • The inning ended on a routine force-out to the shortstop.
• Forced out (adjective/participle): Describing the state of having been compelled to leave.
  • He felt forced out of the company he helped build.

Synonyms

• Expel: To drive or force out, especially from a place or organization.
• Eject: To throw or push out forcefully.
• Evict: To force someone to leave a property, typically by legal process.
• Oust: To remove from a position of power or place.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Force out of: To compel departure from a specific place or situation.
  • The scandal forced him out of the election race.
• Squeeze out: To force out by applying pressure from all sides (often metaphorical for competition).
  • Larger corporations are squeezing out small local businesses.

Related Idioms

• To force someone's hand: To make someone act or reveal their plans sooner than they intended, which can lead to them being forced out.
  • The leak of the document forced the chairman's hand, leading to his resignation.

Noun

1. a putout of a base runner who is required to run; the putout is accomplished by holding the ball while touching the base to which the runner must advance before the runner reaches that base
   • the shortstop got the runner at second on a force

Verb

1. emit or cause to move with force of effort
   • force out the air
   • force out the splinter
2. force with the thumb
   • gouge out his eyes
3. cause to come out in a squirt
   • the boy squirted water at his little sister
4. expel from one's property or force to move out by a legal process
   • The landlord evicted the tenants after they had not paid the rent for four months
5. press, force, or thrust out of a small space
   • The weeds crowded out the flowers
6. force or drive out
   • The police routed them out of bed at 2 A.M.
7. terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
   • The boss fired his secretary today
   • The company terminated 25% of its workers
8. force to leave (an office)