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# compel

«compel» in Mova's school dictionary: **To force someone to do something, by law, rules or strong…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 1 sentence of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (compel, compels, compelled, compelling); adjective compelling

### meaning for a pupil

1) (formal) To force someone to do something, by law, rules or strong pressure (be compelled to). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/#m1)

2) To cause a strong feeling or reaction (compel attention). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

Formal and exam language: «Students are compelled to wear uniform». In stories: «She felt compelled to help». Adjective «compelling» means very interesting or convincing (a compelling story, compelling evidence).

### examples

- The law compels drivers to wear seatbelts. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/#x1)
- Rain compelled us to cancel the picnic. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/#x2)
- He felt compelled to tell the truth. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/#x3)
- No one can compel you to say something untrue. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/#x4)
- The storm compelled the ship to return. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/#x5)
- It was a compelling book I couldn't put down. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/#x6)
- But it was no use; something stronger than himself compelled him to keep them there. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/#x7)

### note

Double l before -ed and -ing: compelled, compelling. Noun: compulsion; adjective compulsory (must be done). Formal: everyday words are force or make.

### In the corpora

- [The hunger of the labouring man laboureth for him; for his mouth compelleth him.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PRO.469/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «compel» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/compel/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.