- present tense form of compel (3rd person singular).
compels
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A subpoena compels a party to release specified internal documents or information.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
It is, as yet, a dud — a $2,000 slot machine that pays out a Community Note dressed as a verdict, in a process that compels nothing and binds no one.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026
There’s also a family curse, which is what ultimately compels Rachel to stay, even at a reception that echoes Luis Buñuel’s “The Exterminating Angel.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
And yet, it’s rare to find a storefront that compels me to pause and look, as so few display anything other than exactly what is on the racks inside.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2026
“I wonder what compels a fully grown man to surround himself with playthings,” he said.
From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore
