enable

American  

[en-ey-buhl] / ɛnˈeɪ bəl /

verb (used with object)

enables, present (3rd person singular) enabled, past participle, past enabling present participle

1. to make able; give power, means, competence, or ability to: Students with vision impairments are enabled in the classroom with magnifiers and screen reader software.

   This document will enable him to pass through the enemy lines unmolested.

   Students with vision impairments are enabled in the classroom with magnifiers and screen reader software.

   Synonyms:

   permit, allow, qualify, empower

2. to make possible or easy.

   Aeronautics enables us to overcome great distances.

3. to encourage or support (the bad or dysfunctional behavior) of (someone): You enable drug users when you shield them from the consequences of their actions.

   The university enabled years of abuse by ignoring complaints against the coach.

   You enable drug users when you shield them from the consequences of their actions.

4. Digital Technology.

   1. to make (a device, system, or feature) active or functional; turn on.

      The automatic snapshot feature is enabled by default.

   2. to equip for an extended, peripheral, or premium use.

      to enable your laptop for wireless internet access.

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enable British  

/ ɪnˈeɪbəl /

verb

1. to provide (someone) with adequate power, means, opportunity, or authority (to do something)

2. to make possible

3. to put (a digital electronic circuit element) into an operative condition by supplying a suitable input pulse

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• enablement
  noun
• enabler
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• enabling
  present
• enabled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• enable
  simple
• enables
  simple
• have enabled
  perfect
• has enabled
  perfect
• are enabling
  progressive
• am enabling
  progressive
• is enabling
  progressive
• have been enabling
  perfect progressive
• has been enabling
  perfect progressive

Past

• enabled
  simple
• had enabled
  perfect
• was enabling
  progressive
• were enabling
  progressive
• had been enabling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will enable
  simple
• will have enabled
  perfect
• will be enabling
  progressive
• will have been enabling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of enable

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English; see en- ¹, able

Explanation

When you make something possible, you enable it. Your good grades might enable you to get into your first-choice college. And a great teacher enabled you to get such good grades. Enable has taken on the meaning of allowing or even helping someone continue to do something they really shouldn't. If your mother writes note after note to get you out of school for no good reason, she is enabling your habit of playing hooky. While you might think she's being cool, a therapist might call her an enabler and give her part of the blame.

Example Sentences

The exquisite security precautions of such special access programs, also known as black programs, helped enable the scam, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

When SpaceX first announced the potential acquisition in April, Cursor said the partnership will enable it to build future AI products using xAI’s massive AI data center complex Colossus, based in Memphis, Tenn.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

Brands CEO Chris Turner said Tuesday the Pizza Hut transactions enable the company to focus on technology, talent, and to “deliver sustained value for our stakeholders.”

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

You have plenty of loot to enable you to leave that $200,000-a-year job behind.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

Native Australians constructed elaborate systems of canals up to a mile and a half long, in order to enable eels to extend their range from one marsh to another.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• empower
• facilitate
• implement
• permit
• set up