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Glite Dictionary
to force back

to force back

10 4.9
Make people or things move backward by using strength and stop feelings by holding them back
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : hacer retroceder
  • The creatures grinned to one another, forcing the humans back into a circle.

So they are forced back into this lifestyle where the men can.

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Examples

  • Aragorn and a group of warriors are fighting hand-to-hand, being forced back by scores of ape infantry.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • The Germans have been forced back to their old line at the edge of the forest.

    Battle for the Western Front (2022)

  • And six times was forced back by the severest storms.

    Lost Horizon (1937)

  • The Missilians were forced back into port having lost more than half their ships, and the blockade continued.

  • As the week went on, the Bulgarians and the Germans were forced back by the French and Serbs and the Allies were almost due east of Monastier.

  • Catti-brie didn't flinch, didn't blink; her determined stare forced Wulfgar back a step.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The soldier bravely forced back the enemy with a powerful charge.

  • The defenders used barricades to force back the advancing waves of attackers.

  • She used her authority to force back the protestors from the entrance.

Synonyms

to push back
vsto force back
97 3.9

Force a person or thing to move backward in body and feeling

uses physical power or influence in general not focused on inner feelings
to repel
vsto force back
21 4.2

Make someone or something move back and stay away, often by using force

focuses on pushing backward through power or influence generally
to drive back
vsto force back
19 4.1

Force someone or something to move away from danger

is about using power or influence to send things backward generally
to beat back
vsto force back
14 6.0

To force someone or something to move away

can be physical or by influence not only violent effort
to repulse
vsto force back
7 7.0

To make someone or something go away

is broader and also includes restraint or nonviolent influence
to rebuff
vsto force back
3 7.9

To drive back an attack or enemy force

covers making something move backward by power or influence generally

How Forceful

to beat back
14 6.0
to drive back
19 4.1
to repel
21 4.2
to force back
10 4.9
to push back
97 3.9
to hold back
187 3.2

Surface Forms

force back infinitive
forced back past
forced back past participle
forcing back present participle
forces back third person singular

Morphology

force + back

The meaning 'to make someone or something move backward' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'force' (apply strength) with 'back' (toward the rear). This simple causative motion construction follows standard English verb + directional particle patterns and is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Force back comes from the simple image of using force to push someone or something toward the back, making them move away. That's why it means 'to push away' or 'to hold something in', as when you 'force back' tears.