force back

USAGE SUMMARY

"force back" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to push or drive something in the opposite direction or to resist or suppress something. Example: The firefighters worked tirelessly to force back the raging flames and save the homes in the neighborhood.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Ms. Friedman tries to force back tears but can't.

The New York Times

It wanted to put an idle plant and work force back on line.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Obviously, there were no intellectual property rights in force back then.

The New York Times

"What Jeremy has done, he has brought a little soul force back to the Labour party.

The Guardian

"We couldn't absorb the work force back into our community," Mr. Oakes said, "and people were hungry".

The New York Times

A call for help reached the Quick-Reaction Force back at the base, where Janis Shinwari worked as an interpreter.

The New Yorker

He said he "would love" to see a resolution of force "back on the floor, sooner rather than later".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

As is well known, the armature current will be ahead of the back electromotive force (back-EMF) under load condition of the interior permanent magnet (PM) machine.

Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials

Their forces back home continued fighting.

The Economist

Trump hasn't suggested pulling these forces back.

The Washington Post

The peacekeepers forced back the crowd, arresting four people.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "force back" in your writing, consider the specific context to ensure it accurately conveys the intended level of intensity and direction of the action. Be mindful to choose stronger verbs if a greater emphasis on the repelling force is needed, such as "repel" or "drive back".

Common error

Avoid using "force back" in overly passive constructions that weaken the sentence. For instance, instead of "The enemy was forced back by our troops", use the active voice: "Our troops forced back the enemy" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "force back" is as a phrasal verb. It combines the verb "force" with the adverbial particle "back" to create a compound verb with a distinct meaning. Ludwig confirms its use in various contexts, including physical actions and resistance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "force back" functions as a versatile phrasal verb used to describe actions of repelling, resisting, or causing retreat. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and media, though it also appears in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. While generally neutral in register, careful consideration should be given to the context and surrounding vocabulary to ensure the intended tone is achieved. When writing, be sure to avoid passive constructions. Stronger alternatives like "repel" or "drive back" can add emphasis when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

push back

Emphasizes the act of actively countering or resisting.

drive back

Implies a stronger, more forceful action of making something retreat.

repel

Single-word alternative focusing on pushing something away; more concise.

beat back

Suggests overcoming resistance with repeated effort.

turn back

Suggests causing something to reverse its direction.

hold back

Focuses on restraining or preventing forward movement.

fend off

Implies protecting oneself from an attack or unwanted advance.

fight back

Highlights the act of defending oneself or retaliating.

hold off

Focuses on delaying or postponing something.

ward off

Implies averting or deflecting something, often a negative force.

FAQs

How can I use "force back" in a sentence?

You can use "force back" to describe actions of repelling or pushing something away. For example, "The security "forced back" the protesters" or "The dam "forced back" the floodwaters".

What are some alternatives to "force back"?

Depending on the context, you could use "repel", "push back", "drive back", or "hold back".

Is "force back" formal or informal?

"Force back" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although the choice may depend on the surrounding vocabulary and the specific tone you aim to convey.

What is the difference between "force back" and "forced back"?

"Force back" is the infinitive form, while "forced back" is the past tense or past participle. For instance, "They will force back the enemy" versus "They "forced back" the enemy yesterday".