Synonyms

enact

American

[en-akt] / ɛnˈækt /

verb (used with object)

to make into an act or statute.

Congress has enacted a new tax law.
to represent on or as on the stage; act the part of.

to enact Hamlet.

enact British

/ ɪnˈækt /

verb

to make into an act or statute
to establish by law; ordain or decree
to represent or perform in or as if in a play; to act out

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of enact

First recorded in 1375–1425, enact is from the late Middle English word enacten. See en- ¹, act

Explanation

You often hear that Congress is going to enact a new statute, which means that they will make it into a law. But enact also means to perform, like in a play. (Makes you wonder if the lawmakers are actors!) Inside the word enact is that little word act, meaning “to do.” That makes sense, because when you enact something, you make it happen. And of course, we know that to act also means to perform, and so enact means “to act out,” like on stage. Now that the new rules have been enacted, you'll have to stop wearing your gorilla suit to work. Even after Labor Day.

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Vocabulary lists containing enact

The Mayflower Compact (1620)

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Vocabulary from history writings about the Triangle Factory Fire

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Just Do It: Act

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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.

See Examples For:

enact enacts enacted enacting

Chait points to the Senate’s creation—a compromise between bigger and smaller states to enact the Constitution.

From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026

So why exactly does Infantino feel powerful enough to enact something so controversial, and what could the consequences be?

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Australia will enact laws to regulate how artificial intelligence data centres use power and water, and to protect creative copyright, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

Pérez-Oliva said that the constitution won’t have to be changed to enact the measures, an important batch of which will be ready in 30 to 60 days.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

But if Nixon had any more plans in store for Ellsberg, he never got the chance to enact them.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

It enacts investor protections through disclosure and custody rules.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026

You mentioned that sometimes Congress enacts authorizations for use of military force.

From Slate ● Mar. 2, 2026

The Taoiseach said he had waited until now because he wanted the Finance Bill, which enacts the Budget changes and contains new tax provisions, to be passed.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2024

Still, no longstanding institution enacts a philosophical about-face overnight, especially when the profession it is representing has been under attack for decades.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2024

In a separate act, the Continental Congress enacts the Northwest Ordinance, which outlaws slavery in the territories north of the Ohio and east of the Mississippi Rivers.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Havana has enacted a series of free-market reforms to give the economy a boost.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

At the time that they enacted the Constitution, the ratio between the largest state and the smallest state was something about 13-to-1 or 14-to-1.

From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026

But life can change in an instant, and that plan may need to be enacted tomorrow.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

The US Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that many of the tariffs imposed globally under emergency powers were illegally enacted.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

To the ANC, the act was a deeply sinister measure designed to retard the progress of African culture as a whole and, if enacted, permanently set back the freedom struggle of the African people.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

What we have seen in Minneapolis is ordinary people insisting on their own vision of what we are and what we do as a country, then enacting that vision.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

“At the same time, we are encouraged that Congress can prevent similarly situated taxpayers from facing the same unfair result by enacting the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act.”

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026

Strong majorities of Californians believe democracy is under attack and support enacting a new state Voting Rights Act to prohibit discrimination and efforts to suppress voting, a poll showed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026

In New York, two opposing bills—one decriminalizing prostitution, which was supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani when he was still an assemblymember, and the other enacting the Nordic model—are still under consideration.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

Well, I guess Dad finally decided to stop “giving me some space” and start enacting a plan of action, shall we say.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023