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verb

compel

CEFR C1

force somebody to do something

In a sentence

Six example sentences with compel, each labelled with its topic.

  • A subpoena can compel the bank to hand over ledgers no manager would have produced voluntarily.

    Law

  • A full-court press compels the guards to hurry every pass, and turnovers pile up before the second timeout.

    Basketball

  • The new patch compels players to leave the safe zone, shrinking the map until nobody can camp a corner.

    Gaming

  • Hume argued that reason alone cannot compel anyone to act; only a desire moves a person toward the door.

    Philosophy

  • New rules compel listed firms to disclose executive pay in a single table, and the totals shocked several boards.

    Finance

  • A habit can compel a person to check the phone within seconds of waking, long before any conscious choice.

    Psychology

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Found in these word lists

Found in 2 published word listsAuthoritative

Each source is a published word list that contains compel. No exam board publishes an official GRE, GMAT or SAT list; GMAT words come from GRE lists and the Academic Word List.