1. To force or to oblige someone to do something, or to get something from someone by using force: The court sent a notice that would compel a woman to appear as a witness during the trial.
2. To be pressured or obliged by someone to do something: Greg was compelled to call the police when he saw that his money had been stolen. to.
3. To make something necessary: The food shortage was compelling markets to raise their prices or go out of business.
4. Etymology: from Old French compellir, from Latin compellere, "to drive together, to drive to one place" (cattle, sheep, etc.), "to force" or "to pressure" (people); from Latin com-, "together" + pellere, "to drive".