enact

[en-akt]

verb (used with object)

1. to make into an act or statute.

   Congress has enacted a new tax law.

2. to represent on or as on the stage; act the part of.

   to enact Hamlet.

enact

/ ɪnˈækt /

verb

1. to make into an act or statute

2. to establish by law; ordain or decree

3. to represent or perform in or as if in a play; to act out

Other Word Forms

• enactable adjective
• enactor noun
• enactive adjective
• enactment noun
• preenact verb (used with object)
• reenact verb (used with object)
• unenacted adjective
• well-enacted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of enact¹

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

Example Sentences

But three years ago, a prolonged rain famine prompted the city to start enacting water restrictions, and the situation has kept getting worse.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If enacted, the 100% tariffs would represent one of the harshest trade penalties ever imposed between the world’s two largest economies — and could redefine the trajectory of U.S.–China relations for years to come.

Read more on Salon

The tax increases under President Bill Clinton and the spending cuts enacted later by the Republican Congress helped to turn the red ink to black.

Read more on Barron's

But the opposition, who the US among others say won the last election, has been left with few obvious paths forward to enact real change.

Read more on BBC

Japan enacted a law last year that specifically targets smartphone software, while parallel rulebooks are also being developed in South Korea and Brazil.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accomplish 
• appoint 
• decree 
• determine 
• establish 
• execute 
• formulate 
• institute 
• pass 
• ratify