enforce
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to put or keep in force; compel obedience to.
to enforce a rule; Traffic laws will be strictly enforced.
- Synonyms:
- apply, execute, impose, administer
-
to obtain (payment, obedience, etc.) by force or compulsion.
-
to impose (a course of action) upon a person.
The doctor enforced a strict dietary regimen.
-
to support (a demand, claim, etc.) by force.
to enforce one's rights as a citizen.
-
to impress or urge (an argument, contention, etc.) forcibly; lay stress upon.
He enforced his argument by adding details.
verb
-
to ensure observance of or obedience to (a law, decision, etc)
-
to impose (obedience, loyalty, etc) by or as by force
-
to emphasize or reinforce (an argument, demand, etc)
Other Word Forms
- enforceability noun
- enforceable adjective
- enforcedly adverb
- enforcement noun
- enforcer noun
- enforcive adjective
- half-enforced adjective
- nonenforceable adjective
- nonenforced adjective
- nonenforcedly adverb
- nonenforcing adjective
- preenforce verb (used with object)
- quasi-enforced adjective
- unenforceability noun
- unenforceable adjective
- unenforced adjective
- unenforcedly adverb
- well-enforced adjective
Etymology
Origin of enforce
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English enforcen, from Anglo-French enforcer, Old French enforcier, enforc(ir), from en- en- 1 + forci(e)r “to compel, strengthen” ( force )
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.
The drama has decreased since we enforced firm boundaries.
From MarketWatch
The high court’s ruling bars the state from enforcing that policy while litigation over its legality continues.
"It's always been quite challenging for an individual to enforce IP rights," Cowan said.
From BBC
"Sanctions only matter if they are enforced. Today, we enforced them," Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, who is also Belgium's deputy prime minister, said on X.
From Barron's
While Vietnam's law is a regulatory milestone, analysts said its impact would depend on how the government enforces it and on what guidance it issues on implementation.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
