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

A bipartisan coalition can enact these four reforms, which would gradually right the Social Security system over time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

ServiceNow’s AI Control Tower allows organizations to enact proper governance and security protocols for AI agents.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

This seems an almost perfect emblem of the larger conversation he is pursuing, the consolations he believes we must enact.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

As part of the deal, the firm promised to enact two-hour daily time limits for young users, along with night-time blocks on use, muted notifications during school hours, and other changes.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

What I found instead was a ready opportunity to enact my plan.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

These conflicting emotions are cued by music that enacts the characters’ inner lives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

If elected governor, Villaraigosa said he would “reform and overhaul” the California Air Resources Board, which enacts many of the state’s environmental laws — including the low carbon fuel standard and cap-and-invest program.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026

The true danger lies not only in what the state enacts, but in what the public comes to accept as normal, even necessary.

From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2025

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

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

But Haitians understand the horror of zombies to be one of dispossession, a curse enacted by enslavers that binds victims to mindless servitude, denying them liberation in the afterlife.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

But filers do have to contend with changes enacted last year as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that only took effect in 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

And in Washington state, voters will consider whether to repeal a newly enacted 9.9% tax on households that earn over $1 million.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

Singapore enacted the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act in 2014, after a severe pollution episode in 2013.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

They forget that their readers are encountering the event for the first time and need to see it enacted with their own eyes'.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

A spokesperson for Ulster University said it was "already enacting a substantial savings plan".

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

Council members must get buy-in from their colleagues before enacting new 41.18 zones.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

The point of the summit would be to codify that view—and to take the first steps toward enacting it.

From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026

District Court Judge Indira Talwani, a federal judge in Massachusetts, who will decide in the coming days whether to issue a permanent ban on enacting the system for this election.

From Salon ● Sep. 2, 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

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