enable

American  

[en-ey-buhl] / ɛnˈeɪ bəl /

verb (used with object)

enabled, enabling

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

• enablement
  noun
• enabler
  noun
• preenable
  verb (used with object)

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

Connectivity infrastructure in space is designed to help everyone on Earth have access to education, healthcare, entertainment, and communications, and to enable people to overcome many traditional limits, such as physical and political borders.

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

That could enable crews to implement some solutions that don’t involve an explosion or destructive leak.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

The EA said there are about 700 illegal waste sites in total, but it had highlighted ones of a higher priority to "enable residents to see where we are acting".

From BBC • May 22, 2026

AI tools enable junior engineers to take more responsibility for the features they develop, from concept through delivery to customers, says Wu.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

If we had an absolute method for distinguishing art from non-art, it would not necessarily enable us to measure quality.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

• empower
• facilitate
• implement
• permit
• set up